DIANE Abbott yesterday ordered Labour MPs to OPPOSE a move to ban Hezbollah from Britain - because it wanted to "encourage" the terror group to become democratic.

Currently only the military wing of the Islamist political party is classed as a terrorist group but a Labour MP led a Commons debate arguing for the whole group to be banned.

2 Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott yesterday ordered Labour MPs to OPPOSE a move to ban Hezbollah from Britain Credit: PA:Press Association

Jeremy Corbyn famously called Hezbollah "friends" during a meeting in Parliament in 2009.

Ahead of the debate the Shadow Home Secretary sent a briefing note to Labour MPs urging them to not to back the motion because it would hinder peace talks in the Middle East.

The document - obtained by the Jewish Chronicle - read: “There is a balance between making absolutely clear our abhorrence of using violence to achieve political ends and at the same time encouraging organisations down an effective democratic path.

“Full proscription could be a move against dialogue and meaningful peace negotiations in the Middle East.”

2 Jeremy Corbyn famously called Hezbollah "friends" during a meeting in Parliament in 2009. Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Jennifer Gerber, head of Labour Friends of Israel, slammed the Labour frontbench for actively ordering its MPs to block the banning of Hezbollah.

She said: “It is sadly unsurprising that the Labour frontbench would issue a statement on Hezbollah which fails to support banning the terror group in its entirety, and which makes no reference to its virulent antisemitism, its desire to annihilate Israel and its appalling role in propping up Assad’s murderous regime in Syria.

"It is, moreover, utterly delusional to think that, having wreaked death and destruction throughout the region, Hezbollah can play any role in promoting peace. We would urge Labour’s leadership to listen to this afternoon’s debate and reconsider its position.”

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“Full proscription could be a move against dialogue and meaningful peace negotiations in the Middle East.”

The motion was non-binding because it was a backbench motion.

Ministers resisted calls to proscribe Hezbollah, arguing that the group presented a different challenge compared to other terrorist organisations because it forms part of the government in Lebanon.