[lit-ideas] Hezbollah
- From: Omar Kusturica <omarkusto@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2006 14:20:28 -0700 (PDT)
It's too hot to write a long sermon so I think that I
am going to post the whole article and leave it to
everyone to draw their own conclusions. What I am
getting from this is that there is a number of
allegations of terrorist activities against Hezbollah
but little solid evidence. Whereas most terrorist
organizations are keen to claim responsibility for
attacks, the Hezbollah has never done so. Some of the
allegations concern actions that are not really
terrorist, such as the 1983. Beirut barracks bombing.
Also, most allegations seem to be of older date; the
most recent ones mentioned concern the Israeli Embassy
Attack in Buenos Aires and the AMIA Bomb in 1992 and
1994. (The Hezbollah has not admitted responsibility
for either.) There is also plenty of evidence of
*non-terrorist* acitivities, i.e. social, political,
and legitimate military activities. O.K.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hizbullah
Hezbollah
Spelling variant of 'Hizballah'.
Wikipedia
Hezbollah
Flag of HezbollahHezbollah[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 movement against occupation, a
view common in the Arab and Muslim world. See
#Designation as terrorist organization for more.
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
Lebanon
This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
Lebanon
Constitution
President
Emile Lahoud
Prime Minister
Fouad Siniora
Present government
Parliament
Speaker
Political parties
Elections
Governorates
Districts
Foreign relations
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 . These
designations are considered to be synonymous with
Hezbollah by the US,[19] Israel[20] and Canada[21]
Logo of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, from which
Hezbollah?s logo is inspiredHezbollah'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
Billboard in Southern Lebanon depicting Hezbollah
martyrsSouth 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 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, unarmored windshield of the bulldozer. The
pinpoint strike, which Israeli sources stated 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
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 23 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
This article documents a current event.
Information may change rapidly as the event
progresses.
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
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.
Armed wing, links to other armed groups
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.
Allegations of links to Al-Qaeda
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
Arab-Israeli conflict
History of Lebanon
Islamist terrorism
Foreign relations of Lebanon
Politics of Lebanon
List of the UN resolutions concerning Israel and
Palestine
Sheik Hassan Nasrallah
Banu Amela tribe
Notes
^ 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".
^ a b Kathryn Westcott (2002-04-04). Who are
Hezbollah?. BBC News. URL accessed on 2006-07-25.
^ See:
BBC News, 'Who are Hezballah?'
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 'Hizbullah'
Robin Wright, Washington Post, Options for U.S.
Limited As Mideast Crises Spread, Thursday, July 13,
2006; Page A19.
^ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hizbullah
^ PBS report:
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/dispatches/lebanon.syria/seelye2.html
^ McClathy Newspapers July 15th, 2006
^ Sachs, Susan. The New York Times. Helping Hand of
Hezbollah Emerging in South Lebanon. March 30, 2000.
^ a b c Ted Koppel on NPR report: Lebanon's Hezbollah
Ties. All Things Considered, July 13, 2006.
^ a b c d LEBANON: The many hands and faces of
Hezbollah, irinnews.org
^ Asia Times - July 20th, 2006
^ a b c d Associated Press, July 20th, 2006
^ a b c Hezbollah's Role in Lebanon's Government, NPR
^ Globalcomment.com - Mohammed Zahid
^ Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External
Relations & European Neighbourhood Policy - European
Union
^ "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)", Official Journal of the
European Union.
^ Jihadwatch.org - March 13th, 2005
^ GlobalSecurity.org, 2005
^ Diaz & Newman, 2005, p. 55
^ U.S Department of State (1999-10-01). Background
Information on Foreign Terrorist Organizations. URL
accessed on 2006-07-25.
^ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1996-04-11).
Hizbullah. URL accessed on 2006-07-25.
^ Canada Gazette (2003-02-12). Canada Gazette Vol.
137, no 1. URL accessed on 2006-07-25.
^ a b Nizar Abdel-Kader. Iraq and the Future of Gulf
Security Cooperation: A Lebanese perspective. Lebanese
Army Magazine. URL accessed on 2006-07-25.
^ Dahr Jamail (2006-06-20). Hezbollah's
transformation. Asia Times Online. URL accessed on
2006-07-25.
^ www.mideastweb.org/taif.htm
^ Reuters (2006-07-19). Israeli shells hit UN posts in
Lebanon, no one hurt. Reuters Alertnet. URL accessed
on 2006-07-25.
^ Country Information & Policy Unit, Immigration &
Nationality Directorate, Home Office (2001-10-01).
Country Asssessment - Lebanon. Asylumlaw.org. URL
accessed on 2006-07-25.
^ (2006-07-13) Timeline: Lebanon. BBC News. URL
accessed on 2006-07-25.
^ See:
Margaret Hall (2006-04-08). American Myopia: American
Policy on Hizbollah. Cornell University undergraduate
research. URL accessed on 2006-07-25.
(2000-05-26) 2000: Hezbollah celebrates Israeli
retreat. BBC News. URL accessed on 2006-07-25.
(2000-05-24) Hezbollah flag raised as Israeli troops
withdraw from southern Lebanon. CNN. URL accessed on
2006-07-25.
^
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/18/60minutes/main550000.shtml
^ "Revisiting the Arab Street: Research from Within",
Center for Strategic Studies, University of Jordan,
February, 2005.
^ Hezbollah condemned for attacking Israel, BBC 15
April, 2001
^ See:
UN Press Release 18 June 2000: SECURITY COUNCIL
ENDORSES SECRETARY-GENERAL?S CONCLUSION ON ISRAELI
WITHDRAWAL FROM LEBANON AS OF 16 JUNE
BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/763504.stm
^ BBC News - In Focus: Shebaa farms May 25th, 2000
^ Secreterary-General Office of the UN August 10th,
2003
^ BBC News - Hezbollah drone flies over Israel
November 7th, 2004
^ Turkish Daily News - Hizbollah attacks widens cracks
in Lebanon July 16th, 2006
^ Breakingnews.ie - Israel denies responsibility for
Beirut assassination July 19th, 2004]
^ See:
Nicholas Blanford - Hizballah and Syria's Lebanese
Card September 14th, 2004
Nicholas Blanford - Sticking to the rules in South
Lebanon July 23rd, 2004
^ Karine Raad - Nasrallah to Hamas: We are under your
command March 29th, 2004
^ "Lebanon: Israeli spying cell busted", Xinhua,
2006-06-13. URL accessed on 2006-07-20.
^ Nicholas Blanford. Sticking to the rules in South
Lebanon. The Daily Star(Lebanon). URL accessed on
2006-07-25.
^ (2004-06-17) IDF arrested 2 minor girls who
attempted to carry out a suicide bombing. Israel
Defense Forces. URL accessed on 2006-07-25.
^
http://www.maarivintl.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=8960
^ (2005-03-08) ?Coming out party? for Hezbollah in
Lebanon. NBC News. URL accessed on 2006-07-25.
^ Amos Harel (2005-11-22). 11 Israelis injured, at
least 4 Hezbollah gunmen killed in failed kidnap
attempt. Haaretz.com. URL accessed on 2006-07-25.
^ Eli Ashkenazi (2005-11-03). I'm not the hero of the
day. Haaretz.com. URL accessed on 2006-07-25.
^ (2005-11-23) Security Council calls for respect of
entire Lebanon-Israel Blue Line. U.N News Centre. URL
accessed on 2006-07-25.
^ (2005-12-05)
[www.defense-update.com/2005/12/al-ghajar-village-flashpoint.html
Al-Ghajar Village Flashpoint]. Defense Update. URL
accessed on 2006-07-25.
^ (2005-12-28) Annan deplores rocket attack from
Lebanon into Israel. U.N News Centre. URL accessed on
2006-07-25.
^ (2006-02-07) It's official: Aoun and Hezbollah are
allies. Ya Libnan. URL accessed on 2006-07-25.
^ Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism
(2006-04-28). Country Reports on Terrorism: State
Sponsors of Terror Overview. URL accessed on
2006-07-17.
^
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HG20Ak02.html
^ JoMarie Fecci, Washington Report on Middle East
Affairs: Despite End of Lebanon?s Long Civil War,
Low-Level Conflict Continues Around Israeli-Occupied
Zone'
^ Gulf Times (Reuters) Hezbollah seeks talks over arms
^ CNN, July 25, 2006Hezbollah's secret weapon Accessed
2006-07-25
^ Al Mashriq The Electoral Program of Hizbullah, 1996
Accessed 2006-07-25
^ (2006-03-29) LEBANON: The many hands and faces of
Hezbollah. IRIN News. URL accessed on 2006-07-25.
^ Washington Post, July 22, 2006 History repeats
itself in new conflict? Not quite Accessed 2006-07-25
^ CNN, July 25, 2006Hezbollah's secret weapon Accessed
2006-07-25
^
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/05/international/middleeast/05SADR.html?8bl
^ Security Council Press Release, Jan. 23, 2006
^ domino.un.org
^ Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism
(2006-04-28). Country Reports on Terrorism: State
Sponsors of Terror Overview. URL accessed on
2006-07-17.
^ See:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HG20Ak02.html
"Hezballah: Violence mixed with social mission", CNN,
2006-06-13. URL accessed on 2006-06-15.
^
http://www.unb.ca/web/bruns/9900/issue14/intnews/israel.html
^ See:
full text of the decision
press release (in French)
BBC report
^ US Department of State Background Information on
Foreign Terrorist Organizations
^ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hizbullah
^ Canada Gazette, v 137, no 1
^ (1999-10-08) Background Information on Foreign
Terrorist Organizations. U.S Department of State. URL
accessed on 2006-07-25.
^ (2005-04-01) Country Reports on Terrorism, 2004. U.S
Department of State. URL accessed on 2006-07-25.
^ "The Prying Game" by Yossi Melman, Haaretz, July 21,
2006, translation July 23, 2006
^ ibid.
^
http://www.ict.org.il/articles/articledet.cfm?articleid=425
^ See:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/07/26/attack/main516585.shtml
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/08/13/iraq.terror/
^ See:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6581-2004Jun25.html
http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/jul/16spec1.htm
^ See Aljazeera report:
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/407AAE91-AF72-45D7-83E9-486063C0E5EA.htm
^
http://english.people.com.cn/200207/01/eng20020701_98923.shtml
^ See:
Saint Petersburg Times:
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/06/25/Worldandnation/Hezbollah__al_Qaida_m.shtml
Mirror by ABC News:
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2114525
MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11072373/
Al Jazeera "Hizbollah has no known links to Al-Qaida"
^
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5040974.stm
^ 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
^ Telegraph, 2004/2/21
^
http://www.redding.com/redd/nw_columnists/article/0,2232,REDD_17528_4389698,00.html
^ United States Department of State, April 2005.
^ Rex A. Hudson, The Sociology and Psychology of
Terrorism, 1999.
^ Hezbollah again denies involvement in deadly Buenos
Aires bombing BEIRUT, March 19 (AFP)
^ "On this day", BBC News, 1994-07-26. URL accessed on
2006-07-26.
^ http://cfrterrorism.org/groups/hezbollah2.html
^ Hezbollah's condemnation of murder of civilians in
Egypt and Algeria is described in Saad-Ghorayeb, p.
101.
^
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3710057.stm
^
http://www.unb.ca/web/bruns/9900/issue14/intnews/israel.html
^ See:
(2000-04-30) Appendix B: Background Information on
Terrorist Groups. U.S Department of State. URL
accessed on 2006-07-25.
(2005-10-11) Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).
United States Department of State. URL accessed on
2006-07-16. "Current List of Designated Foreign
Terrorist Organizations . . . 14. Hizballah (Party of
God)".
^ See:
Reference list. Office of the SUperintendent of
Financial Institutions Canada. URL accessed on
2006-07-25.
Listed entities pursuant to the Anti-Terrorism Act
(2001, c. 41). Public Safety and Emergency
Preparedness Canada (PSEPC), Government of Canada. URL
accessed on 2006-07-16.
^ (2005-01-05) Summary of Terrorist Activity 2004.
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. URL accessed on
2006-07-15.
^ (2003-06-17) Hizballah external security
organisation listed. Archive for Daryl Williams
Attorney-General for Australia. URL accessed on
2006-07-25.
^ (2005-10-14) Proscribed terrorist groups. The Home
Office Department, UK. URL accessed on 2006-07-25.
"Home Office"
^ www.minbuza.nl (in dutch)
^ AIVD Annual Report 2004. The Netherlands ministry of
Home Affairs. URL accessed on 2006-07-25.
^ (2006-07-17) Hezbollah. the Council on Foreign
Relations(Independent organization). URL accessed on
2006-07-25.
^
http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/lebanon/intro/
^ "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)", Official Journal of the
European Union.
^ See:
"European parliament calls for putting an end to
Hizbullah terrorist acts", ArabicNews.com, 2005-03-11.
URL accessed on 2006-07-16.
"EU lawmakers label Hizbollah 'terrorist? group",
www.isn.ethz.ch, 2005-03-11. URL accessed on
2006-07-16.
^ [1]
^ europa.eu.int europa.eu.int
^ (2006-01-20) Ahmadinejad: Palestinian movement
motivated by Lebanese Hezbollah. P.I.R.I News Archive.
URL accessed on 2006-07-25.
^ Kate Seelye (04-01-2005). Hariri's assassination has
united some sects and divided others.. PBS. URL
accessed on 2006-07-25.
^ Dahr Jamail (2006-07-20). Hezbollah's
transformation. Asia Times. URL accessed on
2006-07-25.
^ (2006-07-14) Hamas, Hezbollah Legitimate for
Jordanians. Angus Reid Global Scan. URL accessed on
2006-07-25.
Literature
Bregman, Ahron (2002). Israel's Wars: A History Since
1947. London: Routledge. ISBN 0415287162 Judith Palmer
Harik. Hezbollah: The Changing Face of Terrorism. I.B.
Tauris. 2006. ISBN 1845110242.
Amal Saad-Ghorayeb, Hizbu'llah. Politics & Religion.
Pluto Press 2002 (London) (ISBN 0745317928)
Hizbullah: Politics and Religion by Amal
Saad-Ghorayeb, (Pluto Press Ltd, 2001), ISBN
0745317936
Ten books on Hezbollah.
External links, resources, and references
Official sites
Moqawama Hezbollah's Official Website
Al-Manar TV
Al-Nour radio
UN resolutions regarding Lebanon
UN Press Release SC/8181 UN, September 2, 2004
Lebanon: Close Security Council vote backs free
elections, urges foreign troop pullout UN, September
2, 2004
UN vote due on Syria resolution BBC, September 2, 2004
US draft resolution at UN demands respect for
Lebanon's sovereignty AFP, September 2, 2004
Wikisource:UN Security Council Resolution 1391
Wikisource:UN Security Council Resolution 1496
[[Wikisource:UN Security Council Resol
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