With its history of carrying out global terrorist attacks, parts of hezbollahand in some cases the entire organizationhave been designated as a terrorist group by the united states and many. Long considered the most professional and powerful army in the middle east, with a history of impressive military. Shutting out hezbollah in its entirety will destabilize the lebanese government, in which hezbollah and its allies gained a vast majority of the popular vote in parliamentary elections, making it one of the most effective fighting forces against the islamic state group. Immigration and refugee board of canada 4 november 20 lbn104638. The revolution called for a religious muslim government that would represent the oppressed and downtrodden. Hezbollah has two ministers in the government, and a thi rd is hezbollah endorsed. Hezbollah, also known as the party of god, is a radical shia muslim group fighting against israel and western imperialism in lebanon. Hezbollah table of contents jewish virtual library. The group does not recognize the legitimacy of israel and it has been labeled as a foreign terrorist organization fto by the u.
Since 2012, however, the iaf has carried out hundreds of sorties inside syria aimed at stopping the delivery of advanced weapons to hezbollah. Western kidnapping spree hezbollah kidnaps dozens of western europeans and americans. The hezbollah program five pages excerpted from hezbollah s 1985 manifesto translated into english. Despite faltering popularity abroad, hezbollah enjoys extensive political power at home in lebanon.
The history of hezbollah, from israel to syria lebanon news. Donna robinson divine this book begins with what the author claims is a puzzle. The group has killed more americans than any other terrorist group except al. Pdf on jan 1, 2007, melani cammett and others published hezbollah. This political document also comes as a result of the priority of deeds and responsibility of sacrifice that we have experienced. Hezbollah aims to introduce the islam that is confident in achieving justice, as well as introducing the islam that protects all human rights hezbollah. The shiite militant group and political party is a player not just in lebanon, where it is based, but across the broader middle east. A short history princeton studies in muslim politics norton, augustus richard on. National security interests in the middle east prepared testimony of daniel byman professor and senior associate dean, edmund a.
To obtain a pdf copy of an rir attachment please email basesdedonnees. For a historical analysis from hezbollahs perspective. A short history by augustus richard norton find, read and. The outcome of the war that was, at best, a stalemate for israel has confounded military analysts throughout the world. It remains a staunch opponent of israel, which it fought to a. Among these tactics, hezbollah pioneered the use of cyberoperations as a tool of coercion over a decade ago and. Hezbollah is probably the best indicator of the direction of future conflicts and warfare, and not only in the middle east. Another way hezbollah fighters have augmented syrian forces is through acting as advisers and trainers for the syrian military and paramilitary forces, either in an embedded or partnered capacity. Oct 23, 20 thirty years ago, three spectacular attacks in beirut over an 18month period announced the debut of a potent new force in lebanonthe shiite hezbollah militia and defined its relationship. Hezbollah, a shiite group inspired by the teachings and revolution of irans ayatollah khomeini, is created with the assistance of irans islamic revolutionary guards co. It is also a mostly successful case of a nonstate actor sponsored by a state iran and is a crucial political force in its own primary country lebanon with. Hezbollah is the product of a quarter century of history. Years later, on july 12, 2006, hezbollah, in an attempt to pressure israel into releasing three lebanese jailed in israeli prisons, launched a military operation against israel, killing a number of israeli soldiers and abducting two as prisoners of war.
Background and issues for congress congressional research service 1 overview and key issues lebanons hezbollah1 party of god is a shiite islamist militia, political party, social welfare organization, and u. Ever since the 2006 war, israel has preferred to contain hezbollah rather than fight it directly. He takes account of iranian influence,but stresses the importance of lebanese nationalism in the organisation. Senate, committee on foreign relations, subcommittee on near eastern and central asian affairs july 25, 2012. The leader of hezbollah is currently hassan nasrallah hezbollah s main goals during the civil war were to fight against western influences and create an islamic state in lebanon. The terrorist organization continues to establish positions and gather weapons in southern lebanon under unifils nose. A history of terrorism hezbollah is an iranianbacked, lebanonbased terrorist network with global reach that poses a direct threat to american interests at home and abroad. Hezbollah has remained ideologically true to its hardline theocratic raison detre despite its carefully cultivated image as a modernised, fully integrated political apparatus. Hezbollah was one of the few militia groups not disarmed by the syrians at the end of the civil war, and they continued to fight a sustained guerrilla campaign against israel in southern lebanon until israels withdrawal in 2000.
Hezbollah and the lebanese political system maddie jurden research assistant, ict summer 2015 the views expressed in this publication are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the international institute for counterterrorism ict. Irans support for terrorism in the middle east matthew levitt director, stein program on counterterrorism and intelligence, the washington institute testimony before the u. A short history princeton studies in muslim politics. Hezbollah is an irregular force, influenced by irregular warfare theory. According to hezbollah, the united states was to blame for many of the countrys problems. Hezbollah was conceived by muslim clerics and funded by iran primarily to harass israel. Hezbollah is an iraniansponsored, internationally sanctioned terrorist group with an antiisrael and antiu. Inside hezbollah, short documentary and extensive information from frontlineworld on pbs. The complete document is 20 printed pages in translation and. Israel invades lebanon to drive out the plos terrorist army, which had frequently attacked israel from its informal statewithinastate in southern lebanon. Hezbollah emerged as a leading political party in postcivil war lebanon. It also participated for the first time in the lebanese government of july 2005. Hezbollah, a shiite group inspired by the teachings and revolution of irans ayatollah khomeini, is created with the assistance of irans islamic revolutionary guards corps. Hezbollah simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The new hezbollah manifesto november 2009 hezbollahs new political document aims to define the political vision of the party. Delaware county district library ohio scanned in china. This is a moment of opportunity, the state department declared, as lebanon emerges from years of political. Jul 19, 2012 the shiite militant group and political party is a player not just in lebanon, where it is based, but across the broader middle east. Nov 26, 2017 a brief history of hezbollah, including a contextual introduction to the primary documents used in this essay, will be followed by a thematic exploration of four key identity markers and objectives of the organisation. The group has killed more americans than any other. So determined was israel to avoid going to war with the terrorist group that it tolerated its significant military buildup. The secret backstory of how obama let hezbollah off the hook.
The history of the arabisraeli conflict to them is a repeat of the negative interactions between the jews of medieval arabia and muhammad and the early umma described in the koran and other classical islamic texts. Hezbollah is a lebanese shia social movement that strives for largescale changes in the. That visibility has invited hezbollahs lionization and vilification by outside observers, and at the same time has prevented a cleareyed view of hezbollahs place in the history of the middle east and its future course of action. Hezbollah and other shiite groups didnt resist israeli occupation from 1982 onwards because of antisemitism. Throughout, however, hezbollah s leadership emphasized the permanence of the letter and its principles, particularly adherence to wilayat alfaqih. He traces the root of the organisation to the late 1970s.
Hezbollah was founded in the early 1980s as part of an iranian effort to aggregate a variety of militant lebanese shia groups into a unified organization. By intervening in syria to come to assads aid, hassan nasrallah, hezbollahs. Hezbollah would respond to incursions with its own attacks on israeli forces and also on israeli citizens elsewhere in the world. American security project since 1982, hezbollah, the lebanese party of god and iranbacked shiite terrorist organization, has antagonized its enemies through a potent mix of armed attacks and psychological warfare. As former undersecretary of state richard armitage noted, hezbollah is the gradea of terrorist organisations12. Creation of hezbollah iran s islamic revolutionary guard corps irgc founds hezbollah party of god, with doctrine inspired by the radical ideology of irans first supreme leader and head of the islamic revolution of 1979, ayatollah ruhollah khomeini. Despite the controversial reputation of hizbullah in the west, and the significant role this powerful islamist organization plays in lebanese politics. The second video documents the intelligencegathering operations of hezbollah. From the 1985 open letter to the 2009 manifesto joseph alagha on. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet.
A short history is a clear and concise primer on the origins, rise and evolution of hezbollah in lebanon. As former undersecretary of state richard armitage noted, hezbollah is the gradea of terrorist. Pdf hezbollah has acquired a dual and contradictory reputation. Israels disappointing performance in its war against hezbollah in lebanon in 2006 did not reflect a failure of air power, but rather a failure of israels political and military leaders to properly assess the enemy, set achievable goals, apply an effective strategy and adequately manage public expectations. Hezbollah uses its fighting force to wage an irregular warfare campaign against israel. With its history of carrying out global terrorist attacks, parts of hezbollah and in some cases the entire organizationhave been designated as a terrorist group by the united states and many. This introduction surveys hizbullahs overhaul in its identity over a period of a quarter of a century from the time of the propagation of its first manifesto, the open letter. Many analysts have sought to measure whether hezbollah has registered a net loss or gain through its syria adventureand whether the group is weaker or stronger for its troubles. Upon michel aouns election as president of lebanon last week, the obama administration. Jun 28, 2015 hezbollah aims to introduce the islam that is confident in achieving justice, as well as introducing the islam that protects all human rights hezbollah. Hezbollah has two ministers in the government, and a third is hezbollah endorsed.
The role of hezbollah in lebanese domestic politics. A short history by augustus richard norton, princeton university press, 2007, 183 pp. For thirty years, hezbollah has played a pivotal role in lebanese and global politics. Hezbollah fighters have also led units comprised of iraqi shia militants, especially in damascus. Hezbollah s origins and ideology stem from the iranian revolution. Hezbollah isnt a simple terrorist organizationnor is it likely to disappear any time soo. Hamas and hezbollah sleeper cells in the united states pdf analysis.
The key vehicle for shiite selfexpression, hezbollah the party of god emerged as a product of this conflict in the form not only of a militant organization but also of a shadowy statewithina. Israel was seen as an extension of the united states and a foreign power in lebanon. Permission is given to duplicate this document for personal use only, as long. While hezbollah is an irregular force, it has demonstrated the successful use and blending of both irregular and conventional warfare, in what is known as hybrid warfare. Proof hezbollah is preparing for war defensesecurity. Hamas and hezbollah sleeper cells in the united states text. Hezbollah views its conflict with israel and the jewish people as religiously motivated. In the early 1990s, hezbollah began a process to update the open letter, which culminated in the release of the 2009 political document. Treasury designates islamic extremist, two companies supporting hizballah in. It also participated for the first time in the lebanese government of july 20 05. Encyclopedia of jewish and israeli history, politics and culture, with biographies, statistics, articles and documents on topics from antisemitism to zionism.
Most policymakers in the united states and israel have it wrong. Hezbollah s new political document aims to define the political vision of the party. Background and issues for congress congressional research service 1 overview and key issues lebanons hezbollah1 party of god is a shiite islamist militia, political party, social welfare. It was formed in lebanon in 1982, during the lebanese civil war. When the united states intervened in lebanons civil war, hezbollah bombed the u. It includes our visions and stances and the aspirations, expectations and fears that preoccupy us. Hezbollah chief sheikh hassan nasrallah, 2016 ap images 1982 19821992 1983 1985 1985 hezbollah. They wish to present a picture of islam that is logical, practical, and in accordance with modern day requirements. While it appears that the lebanese shia paramilitary group known as hizballah may have lost its bid for a parliamentary majority in the most heavily attended, significant and controversial parliamentary election in lebanese history, dont count them out yet. Source document contributed to documentcloud by shawn musgrave musgrave investigations. The role of hezbollah in lebanese domestic politics augustus richard norton hezbollah is the product of a quarter century of history. Nortons history is a good corrective to the stereotypes of hezbollah. Recruitment practices of hezbollah, including instances of forced recruitment. The history of hezbollah, from israel to syria lebanon.
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