Berlin, April 30 (TIWN) The German Interior Ministry on Thursday said it has banned Lebanon's Hezbollah movement from operating in the country, calling it a terrorist organization.

Until now the political wing of the Shia Lebanese group, backed by Iran, was able to operate on German soil while its military arm was banned.

Several European countries have already banned Hezbollah, which has some 1,000 activists in Germany.

Israel praised the German move and called on the EU to follow suit.

Hezbollah - which means Party of God - wields considerable power in Lebanon and is seen as a key supporter of its current government. It has been blamed for numerous attacks against Israel, the US and Jewish figures and institutions.