© 2007 Institute of Current World Affairs
The Institute awards long-term fellowships to develop a deep understanding of an issue, country, or region outside the US and to share that understanding with a wider public.
Institute of Current World Affairs - Home Page

Below is a hobbled text version of a PDF document.
In order to read the actual document please click the link below and register if necessary.
(One-time registration is free and very quick.)
Read article

11/30/2005 - Hizbollah: Besides God’s Party, Whose? by Andrew J. Tabler

ICWA LETTERS Since Institute Current World Affairs Crane Rogers Foundation provided fellowships enable outstanding young professionals outside United States write about international areas issues An exempt operating foundation endowed Charles R Crane Institute supported contributions minded individuals foundations TRUSTEES Bryn Barnard Joseph Battat Mary Lynne Bird Steven Butler Sharon F Doorasamy Peter Geithner Gary Hartshorn Katherine Roth Kono Cheng Li Peter Bird Martin Dasa Obereigner David Z Robinson Carol Rose John Spencer Edmund Sutton HONORARY TRUSTEES David Elliot David Hapgood Pat M Holt Edwin S Munger Richard H Nolte Albert Ravenholt Phillips Talbot Institute Current World Affairs The Crane Rogers Foundation Four West Wheelock Street Hanover New Hampshire 03755 U S A AJT MIDDLE EAST Andrew Tabler Institute Fellow based Damascus Beirut studying Lebanese affairs Syrian reform Hizbollah Besides God Party Whose By Andrew Tabler NOVEMBER BEIRUT Lebanon Of political groups Levant today perhaps controversial Hizbollah Born following Israel invasion Leba Hizbollah which means Party God champions Lebanon resistance Israel Shebaa Farms square disputed between Lebanon Syria Hizbollah carries attacks Israeli positions Shebaa along Lebanon southern border party militias facto south Lebanon large parts Bekaa Valley Its leader Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah notorious denouncing Israeli Western arrogance brimstone speeches popular mixed hedonis western dance tunes playing discos across Arab World Hizbollah leader Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah Ask Americans brimstone H izbollah speeches carefully likely vague lecture leading party deeper terrorism hijacking Lebanon political kidnappings based system lessons American involve Photo Nicholas Blanford Lebanon civil Many Lebanese however Hizbollah Lebanon erful political parties Following Syria withdrawal Lebanon April Hizbollah formally entered Lebanese government first July It holds another sympathetic ministers Hizbollah parliamentary faction walking careful working other parties opposing direct foreign interference Lebanese affairs including U N probe assassination former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri How Hizbollah itself Since joining government Hizbollah largely stopped talking Western media A period openness following May Israeli withdra Lebanon which included organized trips corre spondents Hizbollah positions south Nevertheless November I secure interview Hussein Naboulsi spokes person Hizbollah What I found organization clearly Israel destruction party Israeli threat secure popular recognition mobilize Lebanon Shiite Muslims country poorest arguably largest cautiously demanding their share power What unclear however party West Lebanese affairs To understand Naboulsi answers where Hizbollah today where going first necessary historical position Shiites Lebanon political mosaic Hizbollah evolution during country civil careful Lebanon domestic political scene Third class citizens In Hizbollah product festering still solved political problems Lebanon Middle East modern nation build Arab Israeli problem The former Ottoman Empire which encom passed today Middle East administered called Wilayat Nations system Over years Ottoman religious sects inhabited Fertile Crescent given local autonomy exchange allegiance Ottoman Sultan Natu rally these sects strong distinct politi identities Following Ottoman collapse during World War I France given control territory would become today Lebanon Syria French Mandate thorities created state Greater Lebanon bining former Ottoman Mutassarifate special admin istrative region aside Christians Druze Mount Lebanon areas formerly administered Damascus notably Bekaa Valley areas south Mount Leba today Lebanon southern border Tripoli hinterland See AJT France multiple often conflicting reasons annexations On surface French seemed demand their Maronite Christian allies complained former Mount Lebanon economically viable entity because lacked sufficient agricultural areas In reality addition these areas product France minorities policy scheme supported creation small supposedly manageable states ruled whatever religious pened majority certain geographic often importantly cooperative French Mandate authorities At France adding areas Leba attempting create viable state Maronites carving adjacent areas under their which include areas today Syria Turkey little resem blance historic familial economic While claimed championing rights minorities France cerned containing Arab nationalist political movements developing Sunni dominated areas To strangle economic Damascus Aleppo trade French divided today Syria multiple states order cities access single Mediterranean The annex ations while short victory Greater Lebanon proponents toward destroying facto Chris majority Lebanon since inhabit these areas largely Mus To counteract Christian elite couraged Sunnis cities ticipate system The Sunnis found playing their cards right could manipulate candidates office Chris areas themselves given offices French Mandate authorities cooperating Largely outside government alliance Lebanon Shiite Muslim community While different Shiite figures cooper government Shiites periphery state decision making When internal squabbling representation reared Mandate carried first Lebanon census It found Christian majority percent The census reliability called question Christian efforts distort count overrepresentation Sunni Mus expense their Shiite counterparts To settle sectarian bickering government posts Lebanon leaders introduced National Pact The presidency which council ministers sponsible earmarked Maronite Christian The Prime Minister would Sunni Muslim speaker parliament Shiite Muslim Lebanon other sects guaranteed certain number cabinet positions based results census In reality however Lebanese politics remained Christian Sunni affair Beirut Mount Leba ceived country infrastructure devel opment including telephones electricity schools universities Second other coastal cities Shuf Mountains A distant third areas annexed Lebanon Shiite Muslim population Over demographics naturally changed Eco AJT nomic development occurred Christian Sunni dominated areas meaning couples fewer In vastly poorer Shiite areas economic activity mained agrarian families large Excess labor migrated southern suburbs capital These areas became known belts misery their horrid living conditions modern facilities Those lucky enough enter Beirut schools report treated physical examination derogatory about Shiites circulates today Needless Shiites system despite growing obvious evidence Shiites largest country The Civil War birth Hizbollah In March civil ostensibly tween Christian militias Palestinian groups Shiite Iman Musa Sadr Iranian President Islamic Shiite Council formed Movement Deprived movement basically against Lebanese state negli gence rural areas Sadr became close Syria issued religious ruling claring Hafez Assad religious Alawites Shiite Muslims This necessary Assad since Syrian constitution stipulates President Syria Muslim When hostilities broke lowing Sadr another Shiite leader Nabih Berri created militia called Amal Hope According Hizbollah author Amal Saad Ghorayab while hostilities beginning supposedly between Christian militias Palestinians Shiites curred severest losses during first Maronite militias In events further radicalized Shiites Israel invaded southern Lebanon March displacing sands Shiites Beirut southern Then August Imam Sadr vanished perhaps Libya where route visit Libyan Leader Muammar Qaddafi According Libyan version canceled Qaddafi appointment minute Italy Italian authorities insist never arrived Sadr insists Damascus Amal ranks quickly level organi zation In Shiite mobilization received massive onset Iranian Revolution Shiites region began their muscle Follow Sadr disappearance another Shiite cleric Sayyid Muhammed Hussein Fadlallah began organize younger members Amal militant groups includ Hala Islamiyya Beauty Islam Com mittee Supportive Islamic Revolution Shiite tical organization changed radically Israel massive invasion Lebanon June Sup posedly launched create Palestinian fight Lebanon southern border north Litani River invasion between Is raeli Defense Minister Ariel Sharon Maronite Phalangist Leader Bashir Gemayel encircle PLO West Beirut leading disarmament Gemayel election President To repel invasion Syria allowed estimated Pasdaran Iranian Revolutionary Guard Bekaa through Syrian territory mobilize Shiite resistance This worked Syria since Lebanese Shiites could where Syrian forces could According unofficial Red Lines Agreement brokered US between Israel Syria Syr forces allowed south tween Sidon coast Syrian border therefore responsible activities For Shiites invasion brutal According Saad Ghorayab around Shiites their lives injured percent Shiite villages south heavily damaged Shiites droves north Beirut southern suburbs In September massacres Sabra Chatila Palestinian camps where Maronite militias killed random Israeli forces looked around fourth victims Shiite To replace PLO West Beirut President Elias Sarkis formed National Salvation Committee which included Maronite leader Bashir Gemayel When Amal leader Nabih Berri agreed committee Amal members broke movement protest Amal presence table Gemayel These members included Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah Subhi Tufayli Muhammed Yazbek Husayn Khalil Na Qassim Muhammed Ra Abbas Mussawi Ibrahim Amin Sayyid Husayn Mussawi Members group Pasdaran assistance blished Committee Nine today considered first Majlis Shura supreme decision making council today Hizbollah While Israel eventually withdrew battles Shiites continued According Saad Ghorayeb tween south Lebanon popula detained imprisoned Israeli forces another without prisoner rights Hizbollah organized resistance attacks against Israeli positions means battles attrition forced gradual Israeli withdrawal kilometer security South Lebanon During period number bombings occurred against American French targets Lebanon would Hizbollah Wash ington collision course continues In April packed explosives destroyed US Embassy Beirut killing including Americans CIA Middle East director The following Octo US servicemen killed suicide bomber about 400kg explosives truck INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS stroyed US Marine Barracks Beirut Airport Twenty seconds after blast another destroyed French paratrooper headquarters The bombing marked largest single overseas Marine Corps death since Battle Iwo Jima Responsibility attacks claimed Is lamic Jihad previously unknown group Hizbollah categorically denies links Islamic Jihad Washing other believes Islamic Jihad simply phantom organization backed Hizbollah carry attacks points similarities between Hizbollah Is lamic Jihad slogans organizational doctrines during period Hizbollah placed Washington terrorist organiza tions party entered American popular parlance terrorism While US France troops Lebanon battle against foreign influence Lebano subside In group supposedly associated Hizbollah hijacked TWA Beirut airport murdered US service Throughout 1980s Islamic Jihad Westerners hostage executed spies captivity To their release members Reagan Administration engineered Is raeli sales Iran became known Iran Contra affair As raged 1980s sions between Amal Hizbollah defectors When Western forces withdrew West Beirut Amal Druze Militia PSP their place In Amal rounded Palestinian camps Sabra Chatila battled Palestinian forces headquartered there became known The War Camps Hizbollah PSP supported Palestinians which armed confrontation between Amal Hizbollah Un intense international pressure Syria forced intervene support Amal strongest Lebanon leading short battle Hi zbollah February In return letting Syria West Beirut Damascus concluded Hizbollah where would allow organization continue receive Iran carry resistance activities against Israel southern Lebanon From resistance domestic politics This arrangement served catalyst Hizbollah transformation resistance group tioning political party Hizbollah focused attention fight Israeli occupation Lebanese territory And fought The party organized effective insur gency campaigns century using martyrdom erations against Israeli forces their client Chris dominated South Lebanese Army SLA Tactics included rocket attacks suicide bombings On domestic scene Hizbollah first preferred political system It major party talks Ta Saudi Arabia which produced accord ended civil Instead Shiite interests promoted Amal chief Nabih Berri continued closely Syria Following Ta conclusion raged Hizbollah whether party should participate elections In Khameni serves Hizbollah Wali Faqih spiri jurisconsul ruled Hizbollah could participate elections This resignation Hizbollah secretary general Subhi Tufayli later threatened polling tions protest Sayyid Abbas Mussawi faction participation secular democratic politics appointed retary general shortly thereaf assassinated Israel February His successor Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah furthered Mussawi Christian Muslim reconciliation integration Lebanese political system In elections Hizbollah itself Amal creating electoral lists AJT unopposed South Lebanon Hizbollah added seats every winning record While voice heard Parliament especially through MP Mohammed Fnaish Hizbollah stayed government until despite Hizbollah soaring popularity lowing Israel hurried withdrawal south Lebanon May The party continued focus liberating Shebaa Farms corner Lebanon under Israeli tutelage With external threat diminishing Nasrallah turned party attention toward assimilation political system Political Islam might first glance incompatible multi sectarian politics since ultimate creating Islamic state would necessitate changing Lebanon Hizbollah taken different approach According Saad Ghorayeb early Hizbollah issued statement citing Q uranic injunction there compulsion religion which indicated Hizbollah recognized achieving Islamic state Lebanon would accomplished forcing people hands AJT Hizbollah fighters cruising T following Israel withdrawal South Lebanon village Aitroun Hizbollah believes ideal Islamic state unlike Sunni fundamentalist movements Arab World especially Muslim Brotherhood Hizbollah aspire return golden Islamic history Its article faith holds Mahdi Hidden Imam disappeared AD returns Islamic state established Short Hizbollah looks Iran model moment adopted party tenets Iranian constitution Instead Islamicizing above Hizbollah claims opposite gradual Islamicization How Islamic grounds would measured mains However Hizbollah indicated number occasions Islamic state Lebanon overwhelming majority Lebanese Muslims simple majority Even Leba conducts census anytime finds people suspect Shiites Lebanon largest Hizbollah impose Islamic state Lebanon square kilome territory According Hizbollah secular state palatable occupation Israel Hizbollah nationalist drawn Israel toward West The party believes West process implementing scheme undermine Islamic World Plans Washington current democracy campaign Arab World viewed Hizbollah great suspicion since believe West seeks highlight religious tarian differences order divide During civil Hizbollah regarded West journalists workers secret agents party claims helped exacerbate political tensions going The Syrian withdrawal Hizbollah inclusion government Syrian occupied Lebanon meant Hizbollah Amal divided Shiite share Lebanese governance Berri accepted Shiite position Speaker Parlia Hizbollah grabbed headlines fighting Israel Hizbollah allowed considerable security tonomy areas dominated South Lebanon large parts Bekaa In Hizbollah state within state PLO factions become Civil War major difference Hizbollah Lebanese Syria continued allow Iran supply Hizbollah through Bekaa Valley party those fight Syria archenemy Israel When Syria forced withdraw Lebanon April Hizbollah suddenly caught Af Security Council Resolutio called Syria withdrawal disarming Hizbollah specific taken penultimate draft French pressure single party With Syria domestic scene facing first parliamentary tions without Syrian presence Hizbollah again formed alliance Amal But Syrian coalition Saad Hariri Rafik Hariri unable secure enough seats government making Hizbollah inclusion essential Hariri talks General Michel Aoun party collapsed AJT Long Hizbollah MP Muhammed Fnaish became Hizbollah first minister June taking Energy Water portfolio A close Hizbollah Trad Hamade appointed minister labor A closer shows number ministers known sympathetic Hizbollah other political matters supported party direction These Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh Health Minis Muhammed Khalifeh close Amal Nabih Berri Agriculture Minister Talal Sahili All Hizbollah allies control least fifth Prime Minister Fouad Siniora current government compared ministers Hariri Anti Syrian coalition The effect Hizbollah inclusion government mostly elements Fouad Siniora ernment heavy Western restoring A Hizbollah welcoming visitors after checkpoint entrance Israel former occupation south Lebanon INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Lebanese sovereignty following Syria withdrawal For example Hizbollah supported international quiry Detlev Mehlis Hariri assassination quick criticize commission findings biased especially penultimate version Mehlis first report which named specific members Syri regime AJT When Assad finally rejected Mehlis first report speech early Novem which called Siniora slave interna tional community prime minister called cabinet meeting discuss speech Hizbollah ministers immediately walked earning scorn Sunni Christian Druze elements active Syrian coalition When second Mehlis report issued December Gebran Tueni editor Lebanon An Nahar newspaper premier Syria critic assassi nated member Siniora cabinet Marwan Hamade demanded cabinet session international investigation string bombings When Hizbollah deputies discovered cabinet cussing issue private about issue investigation demand accompli party diately threatened government which would bring Siniora house force hands General Michel Aoun T To shape questions ahead Hizbollah inter I spent considerable talking Christian Sunni Muslim Lebanese about their impressions Hizbollah The against organization Christian areas general although Christian youth wealthy families expressed admira Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah charismatic speeches Interestingly enough almost those I spoke expressed respect party shrewdness neuvering Lebanon complex sectarian system Hizbollah famous discipline In reminded British friends loathing Germans Many Sunnis I spoke similar views intra faith tensions apparent After Sunnis believe Hizbollah version Islam correct But somehow I reasons world world doctrine It generally under stood adjustment Lebanon consti tution medium country demographic realities The Ta Accord weaken powers Maronite Presidency placing executive power hands council ministers Sunni Prime Minister changing ratio Christian Mus deputies split Thus power Shiite speaker parliament strengthened marginally Should another census finally result peace treaty Israel another regional political shift Shiites widely expected demand greater ecutive power which today Lebanon would expense Sunni Prime Minister The Sunni Maronite cooperation century created modern Lebanon could altered ended Just reconfiguration would order known whatever formula comes about would likely include significant Sh Harder understand Shiite sentiments A quick election shows Amal ended seats Hizbollah almost split How widely known support Amal close association Syria Hizbollah continued resistance efforts On November example Hizbollah launched largest attack Israeli positions since withdrawal headlines Lebanon region Few missed however exactly after Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki Syrian President Bashar Assad Mottaki Popular Front Liberation Palestine Gen Command chief Ahmed Jabril Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal reported conference Hizbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah As I waited reception Naboulsi office I facing giant murals Iranian Ayatollahs Khomeni Khameni They reminded signs Iranian influence I Lebanon But memory faded I realized other murals could office other litical party Lebanon I sorry about everything Naboulsi erence repeated calls interview The West media biased against Hizbollah We their stories publish about party about We world understand We Is lamic World In Arab World model ideal resistance I began asking Hizbollah finally decided enter government The offensive Naboulsi Thus tenth place Lebanon If history cycle things turning It According Naboulsi Hizbollah decision government result Syrian pullout rather circumstances chang following Is raeli withdrawal There armies movements collapsed following achieving their goals Naboulsi Our resistance continues against Israel But following AJT A nurse patient Saleh Ghandour hospital Bint Jbeil The hospital named after suicide bomber himself outside facility Israel victory decided modest We demand power We skeptical government since government corrupt We believe changing hearts minds people Lebanon first Now En Water ministry millions payoff purchases This stayed until stayed clean Naboulsi Hizbollah activities ground Shiite areas party government natural progression party expansion The government Beirut ignored areas years Nabo In Hermel North Bekaa AJT there infrastructure We brought water tation services We built hospitals Bekaa south Lebanon Beirut clinics Naboulsi dodged question whether believed Shiites largest country instead pointed basic indicators Property Shiite areas expensive similar Christian areas Naboulsi That because demand higher If Christian right maintain sectarian balance military So Shiites He Muslim birth rates Chris tians leaving country Twenty thirty years disaster It interest Leba Christians support France America Outside interference internal affairs Ta means Maronite Christian Presid appoint Prime Minister Parliament When I asked Naboulsi about statements Beirutis Hizbollah Iran working Lebanon Syrian client therefore naturally worked outside system I understand resistance issue through Lebanese society When people spend their Mono Street nightlife district close East Beirut neighborhood Ashrafieh resort beaches while spilling blood fight Israeli occupation pride their country They right accuse being Lebanese We friends Iran Syria It honor It I noticed thick Naboulsi shirt When I asked himself fought resis tance Naboulsi pointed other points torso where bullets shrapnel etrated As Hizb ollah moves deeper state decision Naboulsi claimed focusing Israeli threat continued organizational Israel continues occupy suited confront occupation Naboulsi We Israeli soldiers hostage forced people They listened captured Israeli soldiers For Naboulsi focusing internal divisions Leba plays hands enemies West Israel divide country The problem inside Lebanon outside Naboulsi We together expel Is We should fight other Israel instead Concerning issue disarming Hizbollah under Secu Council Resolution Naboulsi minced words Israel continue threat draws Shabaa Farms Naboulsi We never Resistance includes organizations Lebanese Army people When together Lebanese miracles For Naboulsi suggestions concerning Hizbollah absorption Lebanese unacceptable That doesn Naboulsi Ta heavy weapons Every Lebanon still carries automatic weapons RPGs rocket propelled grenades We excellent relations Army parliament How Meeting spokesman Hizbollah first stepping completely different INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS realm Lebanese politics Over years I opportunity Lebanon political leaders Beirut where political discussion often heated Beirut Lebanon however sitting Hizbollah taking journey outside capital lands annexed Two major issues stand Firs Hizbollah unlikely disarm future Israel going Hizbollah adamant Israeli pullout Shebaa enough Israel still flies fighter sorties Leba therefore still threat Lebanon security While Naboulsi emphasized tional unity coming gether fight external threat words inter laced bitterness toward those segments Lebanese society Shiites third class citizens Very Nation Islam United States Hizbollah believes taking matters hands negotiat position strength domestic political system believe corrupt Hizbollah receives remains fighters prisoner neglects They Israel January Lebanese Christian Ras Naqoura Sunni political circles their American French allies their Given struggle organiz Shiites decades Hizbollah would unlikely disarm without constitutional changes would greater government If international community forces Lebanese disarm Hizbollah force likely sectarian difficult Second Hizbollah itself nation chief defender virtue resistance activities It afraid clear lines about acceptable unacceptable behavior Lebanese government concerning foreign volvement domestic affairs The party rhetoric combined Naboulsi words party actions council ministers indicate further international ization probe Hariri death likely provoke Hizbollah withdrawal government possibly throwing Lebanon again political crisis How would Hizbollah maintain Concurrent Hizbollah inclusion government inves tigation Hariri death string bombings targeting Lebanese politicians journalists So Syria blamed attacks revenge campaign against Leba opponents Countering theory bombings targeted voices against Syria The attempted bombing Syria former Leba interior minister Elias Murr Hizbollah assassination Communist Party Chief George Hawi another known friend Damascus provoked questions Added Hezbollah Shura Council member Sheikh Muhammed Yazbek Decem before second Mehlis report issued noted Syrian publisher Gebran Tueni assassinated Also surprising suspects custody connection Hariri assassination Lebanon security chiefs Lebanon Interior Minister nounced solid leads instead called bomber antom extraordinary abilities elude detection Institute Fellows chosen basis character previous experience promise They young professionals funded spend minimum years carrying designed programs study writing outside United States The Fellows required report their findings experiences field month They write subject formally informally The result unique reporting analysis periodic assessment interna tional events issues Author Tabler Andrew J Title ICWA Letters Middle East North Africa ISSN Imprint Institute Current World Affairs Hanover NH Material Type Serial Language English Frequency Monthly Other Regions East Asia South Asia The Americas Europe Russia Sub Saharan Africa ICWA Letters ISSN published Institute Current World Affairs Inc exempt operating foundation incorporated New York State offices located West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 The letters provided charge members ICWA available libraries professional researchers subscription Phone Fax E Mail valley Web address Executive Director Peter Bird Martin Program Administrator Brent Jacobson Administrative Publications Manager Ellen Kozak Institute Current World Af fairs The Crane Rogers Foundation The Information contained lication reprinted repub lished without express written consent Institute Current World Affairs