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For other uses, see Hezbollah (disambiguation).

For other groups that call themselves the Party of God, such as the American Republican Party, see Party of God (disambiguation).

Flag of Hezbollah

Hezbollah[1] (Arabic: حزب الله, meaning Party of God) is a Lebanese Islamist and nationalist political party and military resistance movement, with a military arm and a civilian arm, founded in 1982 to fight the Israeli Occupation Forces who occupied southern Lebanon until the year 2000. Hezbollah is presently lead by Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah.

The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Israel, the Netherlands and Australia have designated part or all of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. This label is vehemently disputed by Iran, Syria and Lebanon, whose governments regard Hezbollah as a legitimate resistance against occupation, a view common in the Arab and Muslim world.

Background

Hezbollah was 'inspired by the success of the Islamic Revolution in Iran [2] and was formed primarily to combat Israeli occupation following the 1982 Lebanon War.[2] It was formed by the Ayatollah Khomeini's followers in the early eighties to spread Shia revolution[3] Hezbollah follows a distinct version of Islamic Shia ideology developed by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran.[4]

Along with the Amal Movement, Hezbollah is the main political party and military organization representing the Shia community, Lebanon's largest religious bloc.[5] It is also a recognized political party in Lebanon, where it has participated in government.[6] The civilian wing participates in the Parliament of Lebanon, taking nearly 11% of the seats (14 out of 128) and the bloc it forms with others, the Resistance and Development Bloc, 27.3% (see Lebanese general election, 2005). It is a minority partner in the current Cabinet. [citation needed]

Hezbollah not only has armed and political wings but also boasts an extensive social development programme. The civilian wing also runs hospitals, news services, and educational facilities. Its Reconstruction Campaign ('Jihad al-Bina') is responsible for numerous economic and infrastructural development projects in Lebanon.[7][8] The group currently operates at least four hospitals, 12 clinics, 12 schools and two agricultural centres that provide farmers with technical assistance and training. It also has an environmental department and an extensive social assistance programme. Medical care is also cheaper than in most of the country's private hospitals and free for Hezbollah members.[9] Most experts believe that Hezbollah's social and health programmes are worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually.[9] Hezbollah mainly gets its money from donations. It is no secret that Hezbollah receives financial help from Iran and Syria, although Hezbollah denies receiving aid from those countries.[9]

Throughout most of the Arab and Muslim worlds, Hezbollah is highly regarded as a legitimate resistance movement.[10] The Lebanese government confirmed it as a legitimate resistance against occupation.[11][12] 74 percent of Christian Lebanese viewed Hezbollah as a resistance organization.[13] The United States and Israel consider Hezbollah a terrorist organization, claiming that the organization initiates attacks against civilians and ideologically supports such attacks by other similar organizations. Israeli intelligence believes that Hezbollah has helped train and equip Palestinian terrorist organizations in the West Bank and Gaza.[citation needed] The European Union does not list Hezbollah as a 'terrorist organization',[14] but does list Imad Mugniyah,[15] who is widely believed to be heading the international branch of the Hezbollah.[citation needed]

In a non-binding resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 10 March 2005, The EU Parliament considered that clear evidence exists of terrorist activities by Hezbollah and recommended that 'The EU Council should take all necessary steps to curtail them'. MEPs urged the EU Council to brand Hezbollah a terrorist organization. However, the Council is reluctant to do so, as France, Spain, and Britain fear that such a move would further damage the prospects for Middle East peace talks.[16]

History

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Origins

Scholars differ as to when Hezbollah came to be a distinct entity. Some organizations list the official formation of the group as early as 1982 [17] whereas Diaz and Newman maintain that Hezbollah remained an amalgamation of various violent Shi’a extremists until as late as 1985 [18]. Regardless of when the name came into official use, a number of Shi’a groups were slowly assimilated into the organization, such as Islamic Jihad, Organization of the Oppressed on Earth and the Revolutionary Justice Organization [citation needed]. These designations are considered to be synonymous with Hezbollah by the US,[19] Israel[20] and Canada[21]

File:Sepah.jpg
Logo of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, from which Hezbollah’s logo is inspired

Hezbollah's strength was enhanced by the dispatching of one thousand members of the Irani Revolutionary Guards.[22] and the financial backing of Iran. It became the main politico-military force among the Shia community in Lebanon and the main arm of what became known later as the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon.[22] Hezbollah follows Shiite Islamist ideology shared by the leader of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini, as well as the majority of Iranians and Afghans and the largest religious bloc in Lebanon, but it has abandoned its goal of establishing a fundamentalist Shiite state in Lebanon. Many people in Hezbollah said many times that they have never had such a target .[23]

Hezbollah during the Lebanese war (1982-1990)

Combat Operations

After emerging during the civil war of the early 1980s as an Iranian-sponsored second resistance movement (besides Amal) for Lebanon's Shia community, Hezbollah focused on expelling Israeli and Western forces from Lebanon. It is the principal suspect[citation needed] in several notable attacks on United States, French and Italian Multinational forces, whose stated purpose was the stabilization of Lebanon: the suicide bombings of the U.S. Embassy, which killed 63, including 17 U.S. citizens; of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut (see 1983 Beirut barracks bombing), which killed 241 U.S. servicemen; and of the French multinational force headquarters which killed 58 French troops. Hezbollah has always denied having any involvement with these bombings, although regarding them as justified. [citation needed]

Elements of the group have been linked to involvement in kidnapping, detention and interrogation of U.S. and other Western hostages in Lebanon by groups such as Islamic Jihad who claimed the hostage-takings were in retaliation to the detentions, hostage-taking and torture by the Israeli proxy army South Lebanon Army (SLA).

The South Lebanon period (1990-2000)

The continued existence of Hezbollah's military wing after 1990 violates[citation needed] the Taif Agreement [24] that ended the Lebanese civil war, which requires the "disbanding of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias" and requires the government to "deploy the Lebanese army in the border area adjacent to Israel." The Lebanese government did not try to disarm the Hezbollah during the 1990-2000 period, recognizing Hezbollah a legitimate national resistance force.[citation needed]

Conflict in South Lebanon

See: South Lebanon conflict
File:Hizbullahmartyrs.jpg
Billboard in Southern Lebanon depicting Hezbollah "martyrs"

South Lebanon was occupied by Israel between 1982 and 2000.[citation needed] Hezbollah, along with the mainly leftist and secular groups in the Lebanese National Resistance Front, fought a guerilla war against Israel and the South Lebanon Army.[citation needed] The National Resistance Front militias disarmed in accordance with the Taif Accords, but Hezbollah remained defiant, claiming until all Lebanese soil was liberated and Israel expelled, resistance against occupation would continue. The fighting culminated during Operation Grapes of Wrath in April 1996 when Israel launched an assault and air-campaign against Hezbollah. The campaign resulted in the deaths of 106 Hizbolla soldiers and refugees in an aerial bombardment of a United Nations base at Qana.[25]

In January 2000, Hezbollah assassinated the commander of the South Lebanon Army's Western Brigade, Colonel Aql Hashem, at his home in the security zone. Hashem had been responsible for day to day operations of the SLA.[26]

On the 24th of May, after the collapse of the SLA and the rapid advance of Hezbollah forces, Israel withdrew its troops from southern Lebanon, more than six weeks before its stated deadline of 7 July."[27] Hezbollah and many other Lebanese considered this to be a victory, and since then its popularity has been boosted in Lebanon.[28][8]

Continued activities against Israel after 2000

Hezbollah's role in the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon gained the organization much respect within Lebanon and the wider Arab and Islamic world, particularly among the country's large Shi'a community. The Shi'a are the single largest religious group in Lebanon, comprising at least 40% of the three million citizens (see Demographics of Lebanon). The Maronite Christian President of Lebanon, Emile Lahoud, said: "For us Lebanese, and I can tell you the majority of Lebanese, Hezbollah is a national resistance movement. If it wasn't for them, we couldn't have liberated our land. And because of that, we have big esteem for the Hezbollah movement."[29] Even 74 percent of Lebanese Christians viewed Hezbollah as a resistance organization.[30] However, this view is disputed by many Lebanese Christians, especially those of Evangelical persuasion.[citation needed]

Since Israeli forces left Southern Lebanon, Hezbollah has provided military defense of the area acting as the area's army. Despite no official declaration, the stated policy of the Lebanese Government has supported Hezbollah as the army of South Lebanon.[12] Fouad Siniora said that "the continued presence of Israeli occupation of Lebanese lands in the Chebaa Farms region is what contributes to the presence of Hezbollah weapons. The international community must help us in (getting) an Israeli withdrawal from Chebaa Farms so we can solve the problem of Hezbollah's arms." [11] The United Nations considers the Shebaa Farms to be Syrian territory, not Lebanese and has stated that Israel has withdrawn from all Lebanese territory.

Clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces continued, albeit at a relatively low level, in the years following 2000[31]

Hezbollah after the Israeli withdrawal

Hezbollah outpost near the Israeli border. This small outpost was built after the Israeli withdrawal.

On May 25, 2000, Israel withdrew from Lebanon to the UN-agreed Israeli border, and their pullout was certified by the UN as complete.[32] Lebanon and Syria claim the Shebaa Farms, a 35 km² area, to be occupied Lebanese territory[33] despite the UN ruling, and on that basis Hezbollah has continued to engage Israeli forces in that area. The UN recognizes the Shebaa farms as part of the Golan Heights, and thus Syrian (and not Lebanese) territory occupied by Israel since the 1967 Six-Day War.

Israeli aircraft continue to fly over Lebanese territory, eliciting condemnation from the ranking UN representative in Lebanon. Hezbollah's retaliatory anti-aircraft fire, doubling as small caliber artillery, has on some occasions landed within Israel's northern border towns, inciting condemnation from the UN Secretary-General.[34] On November 7, 2004, Hezbollah responded to what it described as repeated Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace by flying an Iranian-built unmanned drone aircraft over northern Israel.[35]

Furthermore Hezbollah says Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon proves that the Jewish state only understands the language of resistance. They defend their right to keep their weapons as a deterrent against Israeli attack, to liberate the disputed Shebaa Farms border area, which is occupied by Israel.[36]

Hezbollah abducted three Israel Defense Forces soldiers during an October 2000 attack in Shebaa Farms, and sought to obtain the release of 14 Lebanese prisoners, some of whom had been held since 1978. On January 25, 2004, Hezbollah successfully negotiated an exchange of prisoners Israel, through German mediators. The prisoner swap was carried out on January 29: 30 Lebanese and Arab prisoners, the remains of 60 Lebanese militants and civilians, 420 Palestinian prisoners, and maps showing Israeli mines in South Lebanon were exchanged for an Israeli businessman and army reserve colonel Elchanan Tenenbaum kidnapped in 2001 and the remains of the three Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers mentioned above, who were killed either during the Hezbollah operation, or were murdered in its immediate aftermath.

On July 19, 2004, a senior Hezbollah official, Ghaleb Awwali, was assassinated in a car bombing in Beirut. Hezbollah blamed Israel; credit was claimed, and then retracted, by a previously unheard of Sunni group called Jund Ash Sham, while Israel denied involvement.[37] According to Al-Arabiya, unidentified Lebanese police also identified the group as a cover for Israel.[citation needed] Israel alleges that Hezbollah had been increasingly involved in training and arming Hamas (see section in this article: Hezbollah activities in the al-Aqsa Intifada.) This claim has been strengthened by Nasrallah's own words. In 2001 Jordan arrested three Hezbollah members attempting to smuggle Katyusha rockets into the West Bank. Nasrallah responded that "it is a duty to send arms to Palestinians from any possible place."[38] After Israel's assassination of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Hezbollah attacked the IDF along the Blue Line.[39] Most recently, during Awwali's funeral, Nasrallah proclaimed that Awwali was "among the team that dedicated their lives in the last few years to help their brothers in occupied Palestine,"[citation needed] which some take to refer to aiding Hamas. On February 9, 2005 Palestinian Authority officials blamed Hezbollah for attempting to derail the recent truce between Israel and Palestine by offering increased funding and bonuses to the militant cells it operates in Israel for any attack they carry out.[citation needed]

In January 2005, Hezbollah planted five camouflaged “improvised explosive devices” (IEDs), inches on the Israeli side of the border near Zarit, 15 mountainous miles inland from the Mediterranean coast. The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) detected these IEDs and, following procedure, notified UNIFIL. A French UNIFIL engineer duly certified that the devices were indeed IEDs, then “requested” that Hezbollah remove them. Hezbollah, not denying it had planted them, flatly refused, stating that since the mines were (just barely) inside the “Zionist” border, it was up to the “Zionists” to remove them. So the IDF sent in a large armored bulldozer to carry the mines off for disposal. This task required making a sharp 90-degree right turn from an Israeli road onto the narrow border trail where the IEDs were located. Making this sharp right turn, the left front corner of the bulldozer inevitably occupied, for a couple of seconds, about a meter of land on the Lebanese side. During those seconds a Hezbollah fighter directed an anti-tank missile at the narrow, unguarded windshield of the bulldozer. The pinpoint strike, which our Israeli sources have admitted required extraordinary training and skill, killed the bulldozer’s driver, Sgt. Maj. Jan Rotzanski, a 21-year-old Russian immigrant from Herzliya.

In June 2006, the Lebanese military arrested an alleged assassination squad led by former South Lebanese Army corporal Mahmoud Abu Rafeh. According to army statements, the cell was trained and supported by the Israeli Mossad and "used ... to carry out assigned assassinations in Lebanon." Among the killings attributed to the squad are those of Hezbollah officials Ali Saleh (2003) and Ali Hassan Dib (1999).[40] Since Israel's withdrawl from Lebanon in 2000, and until the conflict arising in July 2006, Hezbollah has used the period of quiet to secretly arm itself with Syrian and Iranian missiles, which it claims number over 10,000.[citation needed] Placing them, according to many reports (including British Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East Dr. Kim Howells in an interview on CNN July 22 2006), in civilian locations, including family homes, crowded residential neighborhoods and mosques[citation needed].

Hezbollah activities in the al-Aqsa Intifada

Main article: al-Aqsa Intifada
File:Lebanese Hezbollah recruts being sworn in.jpg
Recruits being sworn in – Beirut, November 11, 2001.

In December 2001 three Hezbollah operatives were caught in Jordan while attempting to bring BM-13 Katyusha rockets into the West Bank. Syed Hassan Nasrallah, secretary general of Hezbollah, responded that "It is every freedom loving peoples right and duty against occupation to send arms to Palestinians from any possible place."[41]

During 2002, 2003 and 2004, the Israeli Security Forces thwarted numerous suicide bombing attacks, some of which Israel claims were planned and funded by Hezbollah and were to have been carried out by Tanzim (Fatah's armed wing) activists. Israeli officials accused Hezbollah of aiding Palestinian political violence and participating in weapon smuggling (see also: Santorini, Karin A).[citation needed]

On June 16, 2004, two Palestinian girls — aged 14 and 15 — were arrested by the Israeli Defense Forces for plotting a suicide bombing.[citation needed] According to an IDF statement, the two minors were recruited by Tanzim activists.[42]

On June 23, 2004, another allegedly Hezbollah-funded suicide bombing attack was foiled by the Israeli security forces.[43]

In February 2005 the Palestinian Authority accused Hezbollah of attempting to derail the truce signed with Israel. Palestinian officials and former militants described how Hezbollah promised an increase in funding for any occupation resistance group able to carry out an attack on Israeli military targets.[citation needed]

Since the May 2000 Israeli withdrawal, Hezbollah has continued fighting the IDF around the disputed 35 km² Shebaa Farms area on the Lebanese-Syrian border.

UN resolution 1559

Main article: United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559

U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559 was a resolution sponsored by France and the United States and adopted on September 2, 2004. It called upon Syria to end its military presence in Lebanon by withdrawing its forces and to cease intervening in internal Lebanese politics. The resolution also called for "the disbanding and disarmament of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias". The Lebanese army did not disarm or disband Hezbollah prior to the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict.

Hezbollah and the "Cedar Revolution"

After the assassination of Rafik Hariri in February 2005, Hezbollah strongly supported Syria through demonstrations. On March 8, in response to the demonstrations of the Cedar Revolution which resulted in Syria's withdrawal, Hezbollah organized a counterdemonstration, reiterating Hezbollah's rejection of Resolution 1559 and its support for a Lebanese-Syrian alliance.[44] It later won the greatest number of representatives in its history during the national parliamentary elections of May 2005, and was asked to join the government in July 2005 in the name of national unity. Hezbollah still retains its weapons, and the subject remains extremely controversial in Lebanon.

Hezbollah following the "Cedar Revolution"

During the months following Syria's (Hezbollah's main backer) April 2005 withdrawal from Lebanon, international and domestic pressure has mounted on Hezbollah to dismantle its military wing and become solely a political party. On November 21, 2005 Hezbollah launched a heavy attack along the entire border with Israel which was intended to provide tactical cover for a squad of Hezbollah special forces attempting to abduct Israeli troops from the Israeli side of the village of Al-Ghajar.[45] The attack failed when IDF Paratroopers ambushed and killed 4 Hezbollah members and scattered the rest.[46] The IDF counter-attacked and destroyed Hezbollah's front line outposts and communication centers. The scope of the attack forced Lebanon (whose army does not control southern Lebanon) to request a cease-fire. Following the attack the UN Security Council denounced Hezbollah.[47] Commentators have speculated that the attack was an attempt to draw Israel into renewed conflict in Lebanon, alleviating diplomatic pressure on its backers Syria (which is under investigation for the assassination of Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri) and Iran (which is under UN investigation regarding violations of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty).[48]

On December 27, 2005, BM-21 Grad rockets fired from Hezbollah territory smashed into houses in the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona wounding three people.[citation needed] UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called on the Lebanese Government "to extend its control over all its territory, to exert its monopoly on the use of force, and to put an end to all such attacks."[49] Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora denounced the attack as "aimed at destabilizing security and diverting attention from efforts exerted to solve the internal issues prevailing in the country."[citation needed] Hezbollah denied any responsibility or knowledge that an attack was going to take place.

Post-Lebanese election

After the 2005 elections, Hezbollah held 14 seats (up from eight previously) in the 128-member Lebanese Parliament. It also participated for the first time in the Lebanese government that was formed in July 2005. Hezbollah has two ministers in the government, and a third is Hezbollah-endorsed. It is primarily active in the Bekaa Valley, the southern suburbs of Beirut, and southern Lebanon. The group is headed by Hassan Nasrallah and is financed largely by Iran and Syria, though it also raises funds itself through charities and commercial activities.[citation needed]

In spite of having a foot inside the government, Hezbollah has been frequently at odds with certain members of Fouad Siniora's cabinet and in early 2006 formed an alliance with Michel Aoun (a former critic of both Hezbollah and Syria) and the Free Patriotic Movement. This new Shiite-Christian alliance aims at creating a new majority outside the 14 March forces and is likely to provide the basis for Aoun's presidency when Emile Lahoud's term expires in 2007.[50]

2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict

Main article: 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
Further information: [[:International reactions to the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict]]

Funding

The United States and Israel claim that Hezbollah receives financial and political assistance, as well as weapons and training, from Iran and Syria.[51] Syria and Iran admit moral support for Hezbollah, but deny supplying it with weapons.[52]

Hezbollah claims to raise most of its money from donations. "It's no secret that Hezbollah receives financial help from Iran, but not from Syria," said Hezbollah spokesman Hussein Nabulsi.[9]

Political activities

Hezbollah is an active participant in the political life and processes of Lebanon (much in the same way as Hamas in Palestinian communities). The organization has been involved in activities like building schools, clinics, and hospitals.[8][53] In 1992, it participated in Lebanese elections for the first time, winning 12 out of 128 seats in parliament. It won 10 seats in 1996, and 8 in 2000. In the general election of 2005, it won 14 seats nationwide, and an Amal-Hezbollah alliance won all 23 seats in Southern Lebanon.

Mohamed Fneish was appointed Energy and Water Minister in the cabinet and has been quoted as saying "We are a political force that took part in the polls under the banner of defending the resistance and protecting Lebanon and got among the highest level of popular backing ... Hezbollah’s resistance (against Israel) does not in any way contradict its political role. If joining the government and parliament is a national duty, then so is defending the country.”[54]

Social Services

Acording to CNN:"Hezbollah did everything that a government should do, from collecting the garbage to running hospitals and repairing schools."[55]

In 1996 Hezbollah declared in "The Electoral Program of Hizbullah" that it would want to improve educational and health system.[56] Then on May 2006 as UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs published: "Hezbollah not only has armed and political wings - it also boasts an extensive social development programme. The group currently operates at least four hospitals, 12 clinics, 12 schools and two agricultural centres that provide farmers with technical assistance and training. It also has an environmental department and an extensive social assistance programme. Medical care is also cheaper than in most of the country's private hospitals and free for Hezbollah members."[57]

Now Hezbollah social service agencies provide health care and schooling for poor farmers. [58] Even during the war with Israel during July 2006 when there is no running water in Beirut, Hezbollah is arranging supplies all around the city. "People here [in South Beirut] see Hezbollah as a political movement and a social service provider as much as it is a militia that delivers the goods for its followers, in this traditionally poor and dispossessed Shiite community."[59]

Foreign relations

File:BND Hezbollah.jpg
The former President of the German intelligence service BND, August Hanning, during the press conference in Beirut, regarding the German negotiated prisoner exchange between Israel and Hezbollah. January 30, 2004 see also Elchanan Tenenbaum.

Hezbollah claims that it forbids its fighters entry into Iraq for any reason, and that no Hezbollah units or individual fighters have entered Iraq to support any Iraqi faction fighting the United States. However, on April 2, 2004, Muqtada al-Sadr announced his intention to form chapters of Hezbollah and Hamas in Iraq.[60] He is not known to have consulted Hezbollah or Hamas before making this statement.

It is widely believed that Hafez al-Assad and Hezbollah were closely linked; this did not significantly affect his relations with the rest of the world. Bashar al-Assad, his son and successor, has been subjected to sanctions by the U.S. due to (among other things, such as occupying Lebanon) his continued support for Hezbollah, which it views as a terrorist organization. However, on March 3, 2005, United States President George W. Bush and his administration stated that it would consider Hezbollah legitimate if it disarmed, but also said that this did not represent a change in their view of the organization, which is unlikely to do so.

Those who consider Hezbollah to be a terrorist organization consider its sponsors (in particular Iran, Syria, and Lebanon) to stand in violation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1373 and 1566. Further, UN Security Council Resolution 1559 calls for "the disbanding and disarmament of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias."[61] Israel has lodged continuous complaints about Hezbollah's actions.[62] Israel has bombed several Syrian targets in retaliation for terrorist and guerrilla attacks by Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah that Israel claims were sponsored by Syria. An Israeli official said that those attacks are a "message to Syria to stop sponsoring terrorism."

The United States and Israel claim that Hezbollah receives financial and political assistance, as well as weapons and training, from Iran and Syria.[63] Syria and Iran admit supporting Hezbollah, but deny supplying it with weapons.[64]

Ideology

The organization views an Islamic republic, on the Iranian model, as the ideal and eventual form of state.[citation needed] However, as their conception of an Islamic republic requires the consent of the people, and since Lebanon remains a religiously and ideologically heterogeneous society (see Demographics of Lebanon), their political platform revolves around more mundane issues.[citation needed] According to their published political platform in 2003, Hezbollah favors the introduction of an Islamic government in Lebanon by peaceful democratic means.

Hezbollah supports the destruction of the state of Israel[65] and has co-operated with other militant Islamic organizations such as Hamas in order to promote this goal.

Hezbollah's ideology is based in the Shi'a tradition of Islam, specifically in the concept of "Willayat Al-Faqih" put forth by Ayatollah Khomeini and other Islamic scholars in Iran. Hezbollah seeks to set up an Islamic government in Lebanon modeled after the one in Iran.[citation needed] The following excerpt is taken from the group's political platform, first published in 1985: "The solution to Lebanon's problems is the establishment of an Islamic republic as only this type of regime can secure justice and equality for all of Lebanon's citizens." The Hizballah organization views as an important goal the fight against 'western imperialism' and its eradication from Lebanon. The group strives for complete U.S. and French withdrawal from Lebanon, including all their institutions.[citation needed]


Media operations

Hezbollah operates a satellite television station from Lebanon, Al-Manar TV ("the Lighthouse") as well as a radio station, al-Nour ("the light"). Qubth Ut Alla ("The Fist of God") is the monthly magazine of Hezbollah's paramilitary wing.

Al Manar broadcasts news in Arabic, English, French and Hebrew and is widely watched both in Lebanon and in other Arab countries. Its transmission in France (even via satellite, not by any station based on French territory) is controversial. It has been accused of promoting religious and racial hatred (against Jews), which is a criminal offense in France. On December 13, 2004, the French Conseil d'État, acting on the request of the French TV authorities, issued an injunction to Eutelsat to cease the broadcasting of Al Manar in France.[66]

The Hezbollah Central Internet Bureau in 2003 released a video game titled Special Force, intended to simulate Arab-Israeli conflicts from an Arab perspective.

Alternate names

Hezbollah has a military branch known as Al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya ("The Islamic Resistance"), and is the possible sponsor of a number of lesser-known militant organizations, some of which may be little more than fronts for Hezbollah itself. These organizations include the Organization of the Oppressed, the Revolutionary Justice Organization, the Organization of Right Against Wrong, and Followers of the Prophet Muhammad[67][68][69].

Military Wing

The goverment of Lebanon has accepted Al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya as an arm against occupation of Lebanese land. The P.M. of Lebanon said that "the continued presence of Israeli occupation of Lebanese lands in the Chebaa Farms region is what contributes to the presence of Hezbollah weapons. The international community must help us in (getting) an Israeli withdrawal from Chebaa Farms so we can solve the problem of Hezbollah's arms."[11]

The United Nations has called for the disbanding of Hezbollah's military wing in UN Security Council Resolution 1559.

Armed strength

Its strength is disputed, and has been variously estimated as "several thousand" [70] and "several thousand supporters and a few hundred terrorist operatives."[71]

Intelligence Capabilities

Reportedly, Hezbollah has three units charged with intelligence operations[72]. One unit is responsible for intelligence activities against Israel, primarily by recruiting and running agents in order to gather information about Israeli military bases and other potential targets. It is claimed that this unit also gathers information on behalf of Iran [73], and is also known to conduct SIGINT operations against IDF communications.

Unit 1800 is responsible for recruiting and operating Palestinian cells inside the Occupied Territories, primarily for attacks against Israel.

Preventive Security is the organization's internal security formation, and is responsible for counter-intelligence and communication security, as well as operating its prisons and interrogation centers.

It's claimed by U.S. that Hezbollah has links to Al-Qaeda .[74] After September 11 2001 Hezbollah's alleged links with al-Qaeda came under more scrutiny. U.S. intelligence officials have stated they believe there has been contact between Hezbollah and low-level al-Qaeda figures who fled Afghanistan for Lebanon.[75] Many have even suggested a broader alliance between Hezbollah, al-Qaeda, and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.[76] Such claims are dubious however since Al-Qaeda's Wahhabist ideology considers Shia muslims as infidels, which it has demonstrated in suicide bombings and attacks on Shia targets in Iraq.[77] Hezbollah has publicly denied having any ties with al-Qaeda,[78] and many sources have reported no connection between Hezbollah and Al-Qaeda.[79] Zarqawi issued an audio recording where he called the Hezbollah an "enemy of Sunnis" and a "shield" for Israel,[80] referring to the party's handling of the Lebanese border dispute with Israel.

Designation as terrorist organization

Six countries have designated part or all of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, a label vehemently disputed by some other countries.

Allegations of specific terrorist attacks

Hezbollah is believed by the United States and some other countries' intelligence agencies to have kidnapped and tortured to death U.S. Marine Colonel William R. Higgins and the CIA Station Chief in Beirut, William Francis Buckley, [81] and to have kidnapped around 30 other Westerners between 1982 and 1992, including U.S. journalist Terry Anderson, British journalist John McCarthy, the Archbishop of Canterbury's special envoy Terry Waite and Irish citizen Brian Keenan.[82] Hezbollah was accused by the US government of being responsible for the April 1983 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut that killed 63; of being behind the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing, a suicide truck bombing that killed 241 U.S. Marines in their barracks in Beirut in October 1983; of bombing the replacement U.S. Embassy in East Beirut on September 20, 1984, killing 20 Lebanese and two U.S. soldiers; and of carrying out the 1985 hijacking of TWA Flight 847 en route from Athens to Rome. These accusations are denied by Hezbollah.[83]

It is claimed that Hezbollah had a hand in the terrorist attacks in Argentina in 1992 and 1994: the Israeli Embassy Attack in Buenos Aires and the AMIA Bombing, respectively.[84][85] Hezbollah denies these claims.[86]

On July 26, 1994, Eight days after the AMIA bombing, the Israeli Embassy in London was car bombed by two Palestinians. United Kingdom, Israel and Argentina blamed Hezbollah for the attack.[87]

Hezbollah has denounced some acts of terror, such as the September 11 attacks,[88] GIA massacres in Algeria, Armed Islamic Group attacks on tourists in Egypt[89], and the murder of Nick Berg.[90] However, it expresses support and sympathy[91] for the activities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Islamist groups responsible for suicide attacks and armed resistance in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Entities designating Hezbollah as terrorist

Hezbollah has been labeled a terrorist organization by the United States,[92] Canada,[93] Israel,[94] and Australia.[95]

The United Kingdom and Netherlands do not consider Hezbollah itself to be a terrorist group, but they list the Hezballah External Security Organisation (ESO) as terrorist. The UK states:

Hizballah External Security Organisation: Hizballah is committed to armed resistance to the state of Israel itself and aims to liberate all Palestinian territories and Jerusalem from Israeli occupation. It maintains a terrorist wing, the External Security Organisation (ESO), to help it achieve this.[96]

In 2003, the Netherlands officially supported listing the ESO as a terrorist organization.[97] In 2004 the Dutch internal security agency AIVD, concluded:

"Investigations have shown that Hezbollah’s militant wing, the Hezbollah External Security Organization, has been directly and indirectly involved in terrorist acts. It can also be concluded that Hezbollah’s political and terrorist wings are controlled by one coordinating council. This means that there is indeed a link between these parts of the organization. The Netherlands has changed its policy and no longer makes a distinction between the political and terrorist Hezbollah branches. The Netherlands informed the relevant EU bodies of its findings[98].

The Council on Foreign Relations lists Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.[99]

The European Union

The European Union does not list Hezbollah as a "terrorist organization",[100] but does list Imad Mugniyah,[101] Hezbollah's senior Intelligence officer, as a terrorist. The EU also supports measures aimed at ending Hezbollah's "terrorist activities".[102]

After the above non-binding resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 10 March 2005, MEPs from the PPE-DE, IND/DEM, and l'UEN parties also urged the EU Council to brand Hezbollah a terrorist organization, but this was not included in the resolution and EU nations have not placed the group on its terrorist list.[103] The EU has, however, agreed to block Hezbollah's Al-Manar television from European satellites in order to enforce European regulations against "incitement to racial and/or religious hatred."[104]

Rebuttals of terrorist designation

Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah has vehemently said that Hezbollah is not a terrorist organization.[citation needed]

Hezbollah is regarded by the Iranian[105] and Syrian[106]governments as a legitimate resistance, a view common in the Arab and Muslim world,[107][108]

The Lebanese government confirmed it as a legitimate resistance against occupation.[11][12]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The name حزب الله is transliterated from the Arabic in a number of ways. Both Hizbollah and Hezballah are common transliterations into other languages with a Latin-based alphabet, such as French, Spanish, Italian and the Nordic languages. It may, however, also be written as Hizballah or Hisbollah, and the literal Arabic version Hizb Allah, which is used by Al Jazeera. "Hizb" (party) is the Modern Standard Arabic pronunciation, and "Hezb" is closer to Persian and to Lebanese dialect. The 'h' is pharyngeal in Arabic, but a normal 'h' sound in Persian. The "-llah" ending, originally "Allah", means "(the) God". The name is derived from a Qu'ranic aayat (verse) referring to those who belong to and follow the "Party of God".
  2. ^ a b Kathryn Westcott (2002-04-04). "Who are Hezbollah?". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  3. ^ See:
  4. ^ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hizbullah
  5. ^ PBS report: http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/dispatches/lebanon.syria/seelye2.html
  6. ^ McClathy Newspapers July 15th, 2006
  7. ^ Sachs, Susan. The New York Times. Helping Hand of Hezbollah Emerging in South Lebanon. March 30, 2000.
  8. ^ a b c Ted Koppel on NPR report: Lebanon's Hezbollah Ties. All Things Considered, July 13, 2006.
  9. ^ a b c d LEBANON: The many hands and faces of Hezbollah, irinnews.org
  10. ^ Asia Times - July 20th, 2006
  11. ^ a b c d Associated Press, July 20th, 2006
  12. ^ a b c Hezbollah's Role in Lebanon's Government, NPR
  13. ^ Globalcomment.com - Mohammed Zahid
  14. ^ Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations & European Neighbourhood Policy - European Union
  15. ^ "COUNCIL DECISION of 21 December 2005 implementing Article 2(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 on specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities with a view to combating terrorism and repealing Decision 2005/848/EC(2005/930/EC)" (PDF). Official Journal of the European Union.
  16. ^ Jihadwatch.org - March 13th, 2005
  17. ^ GlobalSecurity.org, 2005
  18. ^ Diaz & Newman, 2005, p. 55
  19. ^ U.S Department of State (1999-10-01). "Background Information on Foreign Terrorist Organizations". Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  20. ^ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1996-04-11). "Hizbullah". Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  21. ^ Canada Gazette (2003-02-12). "Canada Gazette Vol. 137, no 1". Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  22. ^ a b Nizar Abdel-Kader. "Iraq and the Future of Gulf Security Cooperation: A Lebanese perspective". Lebanese Army Magazine. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  23. ^ Dahr Jamail (2006-06-20). "Hezbollah's transformation". Asia Times Online. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  24. ^ www.mideastweb.org/taif.htm
  25. ^ Reuters (2006-07-19). "Israeli shells hit UN posts in Lebanon, no one hurt". Reuters Alertnet. Retrieved 2006-07-25. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  26. ^ Country Information & Policy Unit, Immigration & Nationality Directorate, Home Office (2001-10-01). "Country Asssessment - Lebanon" (PDF). Asylumlaw.org. Retrieved 2006-07-25. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  27. ^ "Timeline: Lebanon". BBC News. 2006-07-13. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  28. ^ See:
  29. ^ http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/18/60minutes/main550000.shtml
  30. ^ "Revisiting the Arab Street: Research from Within", Center for Strategic Studies, University of Jordan, February, 2005.
  31. ^ Hezbollah condemned for attacking Israel, BBC 15 April, 2001
  32. ^ See:
  33. ^ BBC News - In Focus: Shebaa farms May 25th, 2000
  34. ^ Secreterary-General Office of the UN August 10th, 2003
  35. ^ BBC News - Hezbollah drone flies over Israel November 7th, 2004
  36. ^ Turkish Daily News - Hizbollah attacks widens cracks in Lebanon July 16th, 2006
  37. ^ Breakingnews.ie - Israel denies responsibility for Beirut assassination July 19th, 2004]
  38. ^ See:
  39. ^ Karine Raad - Nasrallah to Hamas: We are under your command March 29th, 2004
  40. ^ "Lebanon: Israeli spying cell busted". Xinhua. 2006-06-13. Retrieved 2006-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ Nicholas Blanford. "Sticking to the rules in South Lebanon". The Daily Star(Lebanon). Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  42. ^ "IDF arrested 2 minor girls who attempted to carry out a suicide bombing". Israel Defense Forces. 2004-06-17. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  43. ^ http://www.maarivintl.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=8960
  44. ^ "'Coming out party' for Hezbollah in Lebanon". NBC News. 2005-03-08. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  45. ^ Amos Harel (2005-11-22). "11 Israelis injured, at least 4 Hezbollah gunmen killed in failed kidnap attempt". Haaretz.com. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  46. ^ Eli Ashkenazi (2005-11-03). "I'm not the hero of the day". Haaretz.com. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  47. ^ "Security Council calls for respect of entire Lebanon-Israel Blue Line". U.N News Centre. 2005-11-23. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  48. ^ [www.defense-update.com/2005/12/al-ghajar-village-flashpoint.html "Al-Ghajar Village Flashpoint"]. Defense Update. 2005-12-05. Retrieved 2006-07-25. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  49. ^ "Annan deplores rocket attack from Lebanon into Israel". U.N News Centre. 2005-12-28. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  50. ^ "It's official: Aoun and Hezbollah are allies". Ya Libnan. 2006-02-07. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  51. ^ Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism (2006-04-28). "Country Reports on Terrorism: State Sponsors of Terror Overview". Retrieved 2006-07-17.
  52. ^ http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HG20Ak02.html
  53. ^ JoMarie Fecci, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs: Despite End of Lebanon’s Long Civil War, Low-Level Conflict Continues Around Israeli-Occupied Zone'
  54. ^ Gulf Times (Reuters) Hezbollah seeks talks over arms
  55. ^ CNN, July 25, 2006Hezbollah's secret weapon Accessed 2006-07-25
  56. ^ Al Mashriq The Electoral Program of Hizbullah, 1996 Accessed 2006-07-25
  57. ^ "LEBANON: The many hands and faces of Hezbollah". IRIN News. 2006-03-29. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  58. ^ Washington Post, July 22, 2006 History repeats itself in new conflict? Not quite Accessed 2006-07-25
  59. ^ CNN, July 25, 2006Hezbollah's secret weapon Accessed 2006-07-25
  60. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/05/international/middleeast/05SADR.html?8bl
  61. ^ Security Council Press Release, Jan. 23, 2006
  62. ^ domino.un.org
  63. ^ Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism (2006-04-28). "Country Reports on Terrorism: State Sponsors of Terror Overview". Retrieved 2006-07-17.
  64. ^ See:
  65. ^ http://www.unb.ca/web/bruns/9900/issue14/intnews/israel.html
  66. ^ See:
  67. ^ US Department of State Background Information on Foreign Terrorist Organizations
  68. ^ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hizbullah
  69. ^ Canada Gazette, v 137, no 1
  70. ^ "Background Information on Foreign Terrorist Organizations". U.S Department of State. 1999-10-08. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  71. ^ "Country Reports on Terrorism, 2004". U.S Department of State. 2005-04-01. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  72. ^ "The Prying Game" by Yossi Melman, Haaretz, July 21, 2006, translation July 23, 2006
  73. ^ ibid.
  74. ^ http://www.ict.org.il/articles/articledet.cfm?articleid=425
  75. ^ See:
  76. ^ See:
  77. ^ See Aljazeera report: http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/407AAE91-AF72-45D7-83E9-486063C0E5EA.htm
  78. ^ http://english.people.com.cn/200207/01/eng20020701_98923.shtml
  79. ^ See:
  80. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5040974.stm
  81. ^ 101st CONGRESS 1st Session H. CON. RES. 190 Expressing the sense of the Congress over the reported murder of Lieutenant Colonel William Higgins and Hezbollah-sponsored terrorism. Accessed 2006-07-26
  82. ^ Telegraph, 2004/2/21
  83. ^ http://www.redding.com/redd/nw_columnists/article/0,2232,REDD_17528_4389698,00.html
  84. ^ United States Department of State, April 2005.
  85. ^ Rex A. Hudson, The Sociology and Psychology of Terrorism, 1999.
  86. ^ Hezbollah again denies involvement in deadly Buenos Aires bombing BEIRUT, March 19 (AFP)
  87. ^ "On this day". BBC News. 1994-07-26. Retrieved 2006-07-26.
  88. ^ http://cfrterrorism.org/groups/hezbollah2.html
  89. ^ Hezbollah's condemnation of murder of civilians in Egypt and Algeria is described in Saad-Ghorayeb, p. 101.
  90. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3710057.stm
  91. ^ http://www.unb.ca/web/bruns/9900/issue14/intnews/israel.html
  92. ^ See:
  93. ^ See:
  94. ^ "Summary of Terrorist Activity 2004". Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2005-01-05. Retrieved 2006-07-15.
  95. ^ "Hizballah external security organisation listed". Archive for Daryl Williams Attorney-General for Australia. 2003-06-17. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  96. ^ "Proscribed terrorist groups". The Home Office Department, UK. 2005-10-14. Retrieved 2006-07-25. "Home Office"
  97. ^ www.minbuza.nl (in dutch)
  98. ^ "AIVD Annual Report 2004" (PDF). The Netherlands ministry of Home Affairs. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  99. ^ "Hezbollah". the Council on Foreign Relations(Independent organization). 2006-07-17. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  100. ^ http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/lebanon/intro/
  101. ^ "COUNCIL DECISION of 21 December 2005 implementing Article 2(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 on specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities with a view to combating terrorism and repealing Decision 2005/848/EC(2005/930/EC)" (PDF). Official Journal of the European Union.
  102. ^ See:
  103. ^ [1]
  104. ^ europa.eu.int europa.eu.int
  105. ^ "Ahmadinejad: Palestinian movement motivated by Lebanese Hezbollah". P.I.R.I News Archive. 2006-01-20. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  106. ^ Kate Seelye (04-01-2005). "Hariri's assassination has united some sects and divided others". PBS. Retrieved 2006-07-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  107. ^ Dahr Jamail (2006-07-20). "Hezbollah's transformation". Asia Times. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  108. ^ "Hamas, Hezbollah Legitimate for Jordanians". Angus Reid Global Scan. 2006-07-14. Retrieved 2006-07-25.

Literature

External links, resources, and references

Official sites

UN resolutions regarding Lebanon

United States Department of State

vn:He^Bo^La

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