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[[Image:Flag of Hezbollah.svg|thumb|right|250px|Flag of the Hezbollah, showing an AK-47 above the whole globe]]
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The '''Hezbollah''' ({{lang-ar|حزب الله}} ''{{ArabDIN|ḥizbu-llāh}}''<ref>The stress is on the final syllable. Other [[Arabic transliteration|transliterations]] include '''Hizbullah''', '''Hizbollah''' and '''Hezballah''', '''Hizballah''', '''Hisbollah''', '''Hizb Allah,''' (used by [[Al Jazeera]]). 'Hizb' (party) is the [[Modern Standard Arabic]] pronunciation, and 'Hezb' is closer to [[Persian language|Persian]] and to [[Lebanese Arabic|Lebanese dialect]]. The name is derived from a [[Qur'an]]ic [[ayat]] (verse) referring to those who belong to and follow the 'Party of [[God]]'.</ref>, meaning '''Party of Allah''') is a [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] [[Islamist]] [[Shi'a]] organization and political party<ref>{{cite web|url=http://encarta.msn.com/related_761564963_1/Hezbollah_Lebanese_political_party.html|title=Hezbollah (Full article requires registration)|author=MSN Encarta}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfr.org/publication/9155/#7|title=Hezbollah - '''Does Hezbollah play an active role in the Lebanese politics?'''|publisher=the Council on Foreign Relations(Independent organization)|date=2006-07-17|accessdate=2006-07-28}}</ref>, with a military arm and a civilian arm <ref name="irinnews52494">[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=52494&SelectRegion=Middle_East ''LEBANON: The many hands and faces of Hezbollah''], irinnews.org</ref>. One of Hezbollah's principle declared aims is to fight the [[1982 Lebanon War|Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/27EDF072-1581-48CE-812D-A34D7C89A333.htm|publisher=Al Jazeera|first=James|last=Brandon|date=2006-07-12|title=Factfile: Hezbollah}}</ref> that lasted until [[2000]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/26/newsid_2496000/2496423.stm|author=BBC|title=On this day: 2000: Hezbollah celebrates Israeli retreat|accessdate=2006-07-29}}</ref>. Hezbollah is currently led by its Secretary General, [[Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah]].
The '''Hezbollah''' ({{lang-ar|حزب الله}} ''{{ArabDIN|ḥizbu-llāh}}''<ref>The stress is on the final syllable. Other [[Arabic transliteration|transliterations]] include '''Hizbullah''', '''Hizbollah''' and '''Hezballah''', '''Hizballah''', '''Hisbollah''', '''Hizb Allah,''' (used by [[Al Jazeera]]). 'Hizb' (party) is the [[Modern Standard Arabic]] pronunciation, and 'Hezb' is closer to [[Persian language|Persian]] and to [[Lebanese Arabic|Lebanese dialect]]. The name is derived from a [[Qur'an]]ic [[ayat]] (verse) referring to those who belong to and follow the 'Party of [[God]]'.</ref>, meaning '''Party of Anti-Semites''') is a [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] [[Islamist]] [[Shi'a]] organization and political party<ref>{{cite web|url=http://encarta.msn.com/related_761564963_1/Hezbollah_Lebanese_political_party.html|title=Hezbollah (Full article requires registration)|author=MSN Encarta}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfr.org/publication/9155/#7|title=Hezbollah - '''Does Hezbollah play an active role in the Lebanese politics?'''|publisher=the Council on Foreign Relations(Independent organization)|date=2006-07-17|accessdate=2006-07-28}}</ref>, with a military arm and a civilian arm <ref name="irinnews52494">[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=52494&SelectRegion=Middle_East ''LEBANON: The many hands and faces of Hezbollah''], irinnews.org</ref>. One of Hezbollah's principle declared aims is to fight the [[1982 Lebanon War|Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/27EDF072-1581-48CE-812D-A34D7C89A333.htm|publisher=Al Jazeera|first=James|last=Brandon|date=2006-07-12|title=Factfile: Hezbollah}}</ref> that lasted until [[2000]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/26/newsid_2496000/2496423.stm|author=BBC|title=On this day: 2000: Hezbollah celebrates Israeli retreat|accessdate=2006-07-29}}</ref>. Hezbollah is currently led by its Secretary General, [[Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah]].


==Background==
==Background==

Revision as of 23:48, 1 August 2006

For other uses, see Hezbollah (disambiguation).
Flag of the Hezbollah, showing an AK-47 above the whole globe

The Hezbollah (Template:Lang-ar Template:ArabDIN[1], meaning Party of Anti-Semites) is a Lebanese Islamist Shi'a organization and political party[2][3], with a military arm and a civilian arm [4]. One of Hezbollah's principle declared aims is to fight the Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon[5] that lasted until 2000[6]. Hezbollah is currently led by its Secretary General, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

Background

Hezbollah, considered by some to be a resistance movement and by others to be a terrorist organization, was formed to combat the Israeli occupation following the 1982 invasion of Lebanon [7]. In large part, it was formed with the help of the Ayatollah Khomeini's followers in the early eighties to spread Shia revolution[7][8]. Hezbollah views Israel as a whole as "an illegal usurper entity, which is based on falsehood, massacres, and illusions" [9], and follows a distinct version of Islamic Shia ideology developed by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran.[10]

Along with the Amal Movement, Hezbollah is the main political party and military organization representing the Shia community, Lebanon's largest religious bloc.[11] It is also a recognized political party in Lebanon, where it has participated in government.[12] The civilian wing participates in the Parliament of Lebanon, taking nearly 10% 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, holding two (arguably three) cabinet positions. [13] [14]

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.[15][16] 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.[4] Most experts believe that Hezbollah's social and health programmes are worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually.[4] Hezbollah mainly gets its money from donations. It is widely thought that Hezbollah receives financial help from Iran and Syria, although Iran denies this[17], and Hezbollah denies receiving aid from Syria.[4]

Throughout most of the Arab and Muslim worlds, Hezbollah is highly regarded as a legitimate resistance movement.[18] According to a poll released by the "Beirut Center for Research and Information" on 26 July during 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, 87 percent of Lebanese support Hezbollah's fight with Israel, a rise of 29 percent on a similar poll conducted in February. More striking, however, is the level of support for Hezbollah's resistance from non-Shiite communities. Eighty percent of Christians polled supported Hezbollah along with 80 percent of Druze and 89 percent of Sunnis.[19]

The Lebanese government confirmed it as a legitimate resistance against occupation.[20][21] 74 percent of Christian Lebanese viewed Hezbollah as a resistance organization.[22]

The United States, Canada and Israel consider Hezbollah a terrorist organization, claiming that the organization initiates attacks against civilians and ideologically supports such attacks by other similar organizations.

The United Kingdom, Australia and the Netherlands officially list only the External Security Organization of Hezballah (ESO) as a proscribed organisation.[23][24][25]

The European Union does not list Hezbollah as a 'terrorist organization',[26] but does list Imad Mugniyah,[27] who is widely believed to be heading the international branch of the Hezbollah.[citation needed] Russia does not consider Hezbollah as a terrorist organization [28].

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 classify Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation. However, the Council is reluctant to do so.[citation needed]

History

Main article: History of Hezbollah
Politics of Lebanon

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Origins

Scholars differ as to when Hezbollah came to be a distinct entity. Some organizations list the official formation of the group as early as 1982 [29] whereas Diaz and Newman maintain that Hezbollah remained an amalgamation of various violent Shi’a extremists until as late as 1985 [30]. Regardless of when the name came into official use, a number of Shi’a groups were slowly assimilated into the organization, such as Islamic Jihad, Organization of the Oppressed on Earth and the Revolutionary Justice Organization [citation needed]. These designations are considered to be synonymous with Hezbollah by the US,[31] Israel[32] and Canada[33]

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

Hezbollah's strength was enhanced by the dispatching of one thousand[34] to fifteen hundred[35] members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards 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.[34] Hezbollah follows a Shiite Islamist ideology shared by the leader of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini, 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.[36]

Funding

Hezbollah receives financial and political assistance, as well as weapons and training, from Iran[37] and is believed by the United States and Israel to be tactically, financially, and militarily supported by Syria.[38] Syria and Iran admit moral support for Hezbollah, but deny supplying it with weapons.[39][17] The U.S. Treasury Department has also accused Hezbollah of raising funds by counterfeiting U.S. currency.[40]

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.[4]

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). 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.[citation needed]

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.”[41]

Social Services

Hezbollah provides many social services in Lebanon.[16][42] According to CNN:"Hezbollah did everything that a government should do, from collecting the garbage to running hospitals and repairing schools."[43]

In 1996 Hezbollah declared in "The Electoral Program of Hizbullah" that it would want to improve educational and health system.[44] 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."[4]

Now Hezbollah social service agencies provide health care and schooling for poor farmers. [45] 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."[43]

Foreign relations

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

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.[46] He is not known to have consulted Hezbollah or Hamas before making this statement.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

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."[47] Israel has lodged continual complaints about Hezbollah's actions.[48]

The United States and Israel claim that Hezbollah receives financial and political assistance, as well as weapons and training, from Iran and Syria.[49] Syria and Iran admit supporting Hezbollah, but deny supplying it with weapons.[50]

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[citation needed], Hezbollah favors the introduction of an Islamic government in Lebanon by peaceful democratic means.

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]

In an interview with the Washington Post Hassan Nasrallah tells: "It is unacceptable, it is forbidden, to harm the innocent. If there are American tourists, or intellectuals, doctors, or professors who have nothing to do with this war, they are innocent, even though they are Americans, and it is forbidden."[51]

Hezbollah supports the destruction of the state of Israel[52][53][54] and has co-operated with other militant Islamic organizations such as Hamas in order to promote this goal. Hassan Nasrallah has spoken in favour of the intifada.[55]

An anonymous page on Hezbollah's website marks a distinction between "Zionist ideology" and Judaism. It sees the rejection of Zionism as an attitude hold across "races, religions, and nationalities". It likens Zionism to "the concept of creating 'Israel' by the use of force and violence, by stealing the Arabs’ lands and killing Palestinians". "[O]pposing the Zionists ideology is not opposing setting a home for Jews".[56]

In a 1999 interview, Nasrallah stated "Three things comprise our minimal demand: an [Israeli] withdrawal from South Lebanon and the Western Bqa’ Valley, a withdrawal from the Golan, and the return of the Palestinian refugees. On the future of the State of Israel he expounds: "Everybody talks nowadays about accepting the reality and coexistence, or any other form of settlement with Israel." However, he views "realism in a different way". To him, "Israel is an illegal usurper entity, which is based on falsehood, massacres, and illusions, and there is no chance for its survival."[57]

Speaking at a graduation ceremony in Haret Hreik, Nasrallah announced on October 22, 2002: "if they all gather in Israel, it will save us the trouble of going after them worldwide."[58][59] The New York Times qualifies this as "genocidal thinking"[60], whereas the New York Sun likens it to the 1992 Hezbollah statement, which vowed, "It is an open war until the elimination of Israel and until the death of the last Jew on earth."[61] Michael Rubin qualifies his goal as genocide too, quoting Nasrallah ruling out "co-existence with" the Jews or "peace", as "they are a cancer which is liable to spread again at any moment."[62] The Age quotes him like so: "There is no solution to the conflict in this region except with the disappearance of Israel."[63]

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"). Kabdat 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.[64]

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

Alternate names

Hezbollah has a military branch known as Al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya ("The Islamic Resistance"), and is the possible sponsor of a number of lesser-known militant organizations, some of which may be little more than fronts for Hezbollah itself. These organizations include the Organization of the Oppressed, the Revolutionary Justice Organization, the Organization of Right Against Wrong, and Followers of the Prophet Muhammad[65][66][67].

Military wing

The government 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."[20]

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"[68] and "several thousand supporters and a few hundred terrorist operatives."[69]

The military wing of Hezbollah is considered to be the most capable non-state armed group in the Middle East. "Islamic Resistance guerrillas are reckoned to be amongst the most dedicated, motivated and highly trained of their kind. Any Hezbollah member receiving military training is likely to do so at the hands of IRGC, either in southern Lebanon or in camps in Iran. The increasingly sophisticated methods used by IR members indicates that they are trained using Israeli and US military manuals; the emphasis of this training is on the tactics of attrition, mobility, intelligence gathering and night-time manoeuvres."[70]

Intelligence Capabilities

Reportedly, Hezbollah has three units charged with intelligence operations[71]. 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 [citation needed], 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.

The Israeli thinktank "Institute for Counter-Terrorism" has alleged that Hezbollah has links to Al-Qaeda via Asbat al Ansar, a Palestinian militant group based in Lebanon and claims that trials of Al-Qaeda terrorists in the USA showed ideological and operational connections.[72]

United States intelligence officials have stated they believed there had been contact between Hezbollah and low-level al-Qaeda figures who fled Afghanistan for Lebanon.[73]

Some have suggested a broader alliance between Hezbollah, al-Qaeda, and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.[74] 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.[75] Hezbollah has publicly denied having any ties with al-Qaeda,[76] and many sources have reported no connection between Hezbollah and Al-Qaeda. [77][78] Zarqawi issued an audio recording where he called the Hezbollah an "enemy of Sunnis" and a "shield" for Israel,[79][80] for protecting Israel by preventing Palestinian attacks from Lebanon.

Nasrallah denies links to al-Qaeda, present or past. He attributes this to different areas of work and different enemies faced, Hezbollah's aim being the "confrontation of the Zionist plan." Bin Ladin’s focus has been Afghanistan, Yugoslavia, Bosnia, and Chechnya, according to Nasrallah, "So we are talking about two different areas and battles facing two completely different enemies. This was the reason why there wasn't any contact."[81]

During the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict Ayman al-Zawahiri, Al Qaeda's deputy leader, called for Muslims to rise up in a holy war against Israel and join the fighting in Lebanon.[82]

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. A notable omission of Hezbollah in its list of terrorist groups is Russia, who released the list in the midst of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict.[83]

There is no consensus about definition of terrorism. As Edward Peck Deputy Director of the Reagan White House Task Force on Terrorism expressed: "the terrorist, of course, is in the eye of the beholder."[84]

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, [85] 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.[86] 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.[87]

The U.S. says Hezbollah carried out two Argentine terrorist attacks in the early 1990s: the 1992 Israeli Embassy bombing in Buenos Aires, killing 29 people, and an attack two years later on a Jewish community center there, killing 85.[88][89] Hezbollah denies these claims.[90][91]

On July 26, 1994, Eight days after the community center bombing, the Israeli Embassy in London was car bombed by two Palestinians. United Kingdom, Israel and Argentina blamed Hezbollah for the attack.[92]

Hezbollah has denounced some acts of terror, such as the September 11 attacks[93], GIA massacres in Algeria, Armed Islamic Group attacks on tourists in Egypt[94], and the murder of Nick Berg[95]. However, it expresses support and sympathy[96] 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, either in full or part by the following entities:

List of entities designating Hezbollah as terrorist
Entity Type of Designation Reference
United States The organisation Hezbollah in full [97]
Canada The organisation Hezbollah in full [98]
Israel The organisation Hezbollah in full [99]
United Kingdom The Hezbollah External Security Organisation [100]
Netherlands The Hezbollah External Security Organisation [101][102]
Australia The Hezbollah External Security Organisation [103]
European Union No organisational listing, but does list Hezbollah's senior intelligence officer - Imad Mugniyah. [104][105][106]

Rebuttals of terrorist designation

Hezbollah leader Sayed Hassan Nasrallah has vehemently said that Hezbollah is not a terrorist organization.[citation needed] Hezbollah is regarded by the Iranian[107] and Syrian[108]governments as a legitimate resistance, a view common in the Arab and Muslim world.[109][110] The Lebanese government confirmed it as a legitimate resistance against occupation.[20][21]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The stress is on the final syllable. Other transliterations include Hizbullah, Hizbollah and Hezballah, Hizballah, Hisbollah, Hizb Allah, (used by Al Jazeera). 'Hizb' (party) is the Modern Standard Arabic pronunciation, and 'Hezb' is closer to Persian and to Lebanese dialect. The name is derived from a Qur'anic ayat (verse) referring to those who belong to and follow the 'Party of God'.
  2. ^ MSN Encarta. "Hezbollah (Full article requires registration)".
  3. ^ "Hezbollah - Does Hezbollah play an active role in the Lebanese politics?". the Council on Foreign Relations(Independent organization). 2006-07-17. Retrieved 2006-07-28.
  4. ^ a b c d e f LEBANON: The many hands and faces of Hezbollah, irinnews.org
  5. ^ Brandon, James (2006-07-12). "Factfile: Hezbollah". Al Jazeera.
  6. ^ BBC. "On this day: 2000: Hezbollah celebrates Israeli retreat". Retrieved 2006-07-29.
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference bbc1908671 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Wright, Robin (2006-07-13). "Options for U.S. Limited As Mideast Crises Spread". Washington Post. p. A19.
  9. ^ http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=countries&Area=syria&ID=SP3699. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ^ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hizbullah
  11. ^ Seelye, Kate (2005-04-01). "Lebanon's religious mix". PBS Frontline World. Retrieved 2006-07-28.
  12. ^ McClathy Newspapers July 15th, 2006
  13. ^ YaLibnan Wednesday, "Lineup of Lebanon's new Cabinet"; 20 July, 2005
  14. ^ LebaneseBloggers, " The Lineup: Check the Name", 15 July, 2005
  15. ^ Sachs, Susan. The New York Times. Helping Hand of Hezbollah Emerging in South Lebanon. March 30, 2000.
  16. ^ a b Ted Koppel on NPR report: Lebanon's Hezbollah Ties. All Things Considered, July 13, 2006.
  17. ^ a b "Iran denies giving aid to Hizbullah", Jerusalem Post, July 28th, 2006
  18. ^ Asia Times - July 20th, 2006
  19. ^ Blanford, Nicholas (2006-07-28). "Israeli strikes may boost Hizbullah base". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2006-07-29.
  20. ^ a b c Associated Press, July 20th, 2006
  21. ^ a b Hezbollah's Role in Lebanon's Government, NPR
  22. ^ Globalcomment.com - Mohammed Zahid
  23. ^ "Proscribed terrorist groups". The Home Office Department, UK. 2005-10-14. Retrieved 2006-07-25. "Home Office"
  24. ^ "Hizballah external security organisation listed". Archive for Daryl Williams Attorney-General for Australia. 2003-06-17. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  25. ^ De Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken. "Beantwoording toezegging inzake de positie van Hezbollah" (in Dutch).
  26. ^ Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations & European Neighbourhood Policy - European Union
  27. ^ "URGING THE EUROPEAN UNION TO ADD HEZBOLLAH TO THE EUROPEAN UNION'S WIDERANGING LIST OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS" (PDF). U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
  28. ^ "Russia Outlaws 17 Terror Groups; Hamas, Hezbollah Not Included". MosNews. 2006-07-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ GlobalSecurity.org, 2005
  30. ^ Diaz & Newman, 2005, p. 55
  31. ^ U.S Department of State (1999-10-01). "Background Information on Foreign Terrorist Organizations". Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  32. ^ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1996-04-11). "Hizbullah". Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  33. ^ Canada Gazette (2003-02-12). "Canada Gazette Vol. 137, no 1". Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  34. ^ a b Nizar Abdel-Kader. "Iraq and the Future of Gulf Security Cooperation: A Lebanese perspective". Lebanese Army Magazine. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  35. ^ Third World Quarterly, Vol 14, No 2, 1993, reprinted at Al Mashriq Lebanon's Hizbullah: from Islamic revolution to parliamentary accommodation Accessed 2006-07-26
  36. ^ Dahr Jamail (2006-06-20). "Hezbollah's transformation". Asia Times Online. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  37. ^ http://memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD122006
  38. ^ Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism (2006-04-28). "Country Reports on Terrorism: State Sponsors of Terror Overview". Retrieved 2006-07-17.
  39. ^ Asia Times, July 20, 2006 Hezbollah's transformation
  40. ^ US Treasury Department, June 10, 2004 Treasury Designates Islamic Extremist, Two Companies Supporting Hizballah in Tri-Border Area Accessed 2006-07-26
  41. ^ Gulf Times (Reuters) Hezbollah seeks talks over arms
  42. ^ JoMarie Fecci, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs: Despite End of Lebanon’s Long Civil War, Low-Level Conflict Continues Around Israeli-Occupied Zone'
  43. ^ a b CNN (2006-07-25). "Hezbollah's secret weapon". Retrieved 2006-07-25. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  44. ^ Al Mashriq The Electoral Program of Hizbullah, 1996 Accessed 2006-07-25
  45. ^ Washington Post, July 22, 2006 History repeats itself in new conflict? Not quite Accessed 2006-07-25
  46. ^ Gettleman, Jeffrey (2004-04-05). "THE STRUGGLE FOR IRAQ: UNREST; A Young Radical's Anti-U.S. Wrath Is Unleashed". NY Times. Retrieved 2006-07-26.
  47. ^ Security Council (Press Release) (2006-01-23). "SECURITY COUNCIL NOTES SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN LEBANON". Retrieved 2006-07-26.
  48. ^ Mekel, Arye (2003-01-14). "The situation in the Middle East - Measures to eliminate international terrorism". General Assembly Security Council, United Nations. Retrieved 2006-07-26.
  49. ^ Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism (2006-04-28). "Country Reports on Terrorism: State Sponsors of Terror Overview". Retrieved 2006-07-17.
  50. ^ See:
  51. ^ Inside the Mind of Hezbollah by Robin Wright, The Washington Post, July 16, 2006
  52. ^ The Brunswickan Online. "Hizbollah promises Israel a blood-filled new year, Iran calls for Israel's end". (Student newspaper)
  53. ^ Institute for Counterterrorism (Israeli NGO) citing al-Safir (Beirut) February 16, 1985 The Hizballah Program Accessed July 31, 2006
  54. ^ Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada Listed Entities - Hizballah Accessed July 31, 2006
  55. ^ "Address of the Secretary-General of Hizbullah "Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah" at the Tehran Convention Supporting the Intifada (Palestinian Uprising)". Islamic Resistance in Lebanon. 2001-04-24. Retrieved 2006-07-27.
  56. ^ The Truth Is Spoken: Anti-Zionists Are No Anti-Semitists... The Zionists ideology versus the Torah and Judaism, Archive search result page, labeled "Aljazeera, 1-1-2006."
  57. ^ Thisreen (Syrian newspaper) June 21, 1999, reprinted by MEMRI Secretary General of Hizbullah Discusses the New Israeli Government and Hizbullah’s Struggle Against Israel Accessed July 30, 2006
  58. ^ Nasrallah alleges "Christian Zionist" plot by Badih Chayban, The Daily Star, October 23, 2002
  59. ^ Hezbollah leader targets Christians, WorldNetDaily, October 23, 2002
  60. ^ The Enemy Within by Elena Lappin, The New York Times, May 23, 2004
  61. ^ Nasrallah's Nonsense, The New York Sun Staff Editorial, March 11, 2005
  62. ^ Eradication First - Before Diplomacy by Michael Rubin, American Enterprise Institute, July 17, 2006
  63. ^ Little choice for a defiant Israel, by Andrew Markus, The Age, July 15, 2006
  64. ^ See:
  65. ^ US Department of State Background Information on Foreign Terrorist Organizations
  66. ^ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hizbullah
  67. ^ Canada Gazette, v 137, no 1
  68. ^ "Background Information on Foreign Terrorist Organizations". U.S Department of State. 1999-10-08. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  69. ^ "Country Reports on Terrorism, 2004". U.S Department of State. 2005-04-01. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  70. ^ Janes World Insurgency and Terrorism Group Profile: Hezbollah Accessed July 28, 2006
  71. ^ Melman, Yassi (2006-07-21). "The Prying Game". Haaretz.
  72. ^ "The Al-Qaida-Hizballah Connection". Institute for Counter-Terrorism at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya. 2006-02-26. Retrieved 2006-07-26.
  73. ^ See:
  74. ^ See:
  75. ^ Al Jazeera (2005-09-14). "Al-Zarqawi declares war on Iraqi Shia". Retrieved 2006-07-26.
  76. ^ People's Daily (China) (2002-07-01). "Lebanon's Hezbollah Denies Link with Al-Qaeda". Retrieved 2006-07-26.
  77. ^ Janes World Insurgency and Terrorism.Group Profile: Hizbullah Accessed July 28, 2006
  78. ^ See:
  79. ^ BBC News (2006-06-02). "'Zarqawi tape' urges Sunni unrest". Retrieved 2006-07-26.
  80. ^ Al Jazeera "Hizbollah has no known links to Al-Qaida"
  81. ^ Tehran, Washington, And Terror: No Agreement To Differ by A. W. Samii, Middle East Review of International Affairs, Volume 6, No. 3, September 2002 - citing Al-Majallah, March 24-30, 2002 and Al-Watan March 19, 2002
  82. ^ CNN, July 27, 2006 Al Qaeda: War with Israel is 'jihad' Accessed July 29, 2006
  83. ^ "Russia Outlaws 17 Terror Groups; Hamas, Hezbollah Not Included". MosNews. 2006-07-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  84. ^ Democracy Now (2006-07-28). "Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah Talks With Former US Diplomats on Israel, Prisoners and Hezbollah's Founding".
  85. ^ 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
  86. ^ Telegraph, 2004/2/21
  87. ^ Sites, Kevin (Scripps Howard News Services). "Hezbollah denies terrorist ties, increases role in government" 2006-01-15
  88. ^ United States Department of State, April 2005.
  89. ^ Rex A. Hudson, The Sociology and Psychology of Terrorism, 1999.
  90. ^ Hezbollah again denies involvement in deadly Buenos Aires bombing BEIRUT, March 19 (AFP)
  91. ^ Hezbollah website, citing BBC 2005-11-11 Hizbullah denies Argentina bomb Accessed July 26, 2006
  92. ^ "On this day". BBC News. 1994-07-26. Retrieved 2006-07-26.
  93. ^ Wright, Robin. "Inside the Mind of Hezbollah". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2006-08-01.
  94. ^ Hezbollah's condemnation of murder of civilians in Egypt and Algeria is described in Saad-Ghorayeb, p. 101.
  95. ^ Usher, Sebastian. "Muted Arab reaction to Berg beheading". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-07-27.
  96. ^ The Brunswickan Online. "Hizbollah promises Israel a blood-filled new year, Iran calls for Israel's end".
  97. ^ See:
  98. ^ See:
  99. ^ "Summary of Terrorist Activity 2004". Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2005-01-05. Retrieved 2006-07-15.
  100. ^ "Proscribed terrorist groups". The Home Office Department, UK. 2005-10-14. Retrieved 2006-07-25. "Home Office"
  101. ^ De Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken. "Beantwoording toezegging inzake de positie van Hezbollah" (in Dutch).
  102. ^ "AIVD Annual Report 2004" (PDF). The Netherlands ministry of Home Affairs. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  103. ^ "Hizballah external security organisation listed". Archive for Daryl Williams Attorney-General for Australia. 2003-06-17. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  104. ^ European Union. "The EU's relations with Lebanon".
  105. ^ "COUNCIL DECISION of 21 December 2005 implementing Article 2(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 on specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities with a view to combating terrorism and repealing Decision 2005/848/EC(2005/930/EC)" (PDF). Official Journal of the European Union.
  106. ^ See:*"European parliament calls for putting an end to Hizbullah terrorist acts". ArabicNews.com. 2005-03-11. Retrieved 2006-07-16.
  107. ^ "Ahmadinejad: Palestinian movement motivated by Lebanese Hezbollah". P.I.R.I News Archive. 2006-01-20. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  108. ^ Kate Seelye (04-01-2005). "Hariri's assassination has united some sects and divided others". PBS. Retrieved 2006-07-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  109. ^ Dahr Jamail (2006-07-20). "Hezbollah's transformation". Asia Times. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
  110. ^ "Hamas, Hezbollah Legitimate for Jordanians". Angus Reid Global Scan. 2006-07-14. Retrieved 2006-07-25.

Literature

External links, resources, and references

Official sites

UN resolutions regarding Lebanon

United States Department of State

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