Hezbullah - The Party of God

Hezbollah “State within the Sate”

Historical background

Hezbollah (the party of god) is a Shiite political and military group, created in early 1980s during the Israel invasion of Lebanon. The 1975 Lebanese civil war, Israel’s occupation of Lebanon in 1978, and 1979 revolution of Iran played the main role in shaping of the group’s views. The groups of students who returned from Iraq in 1970s were inspired by the 1960s and 1970s shiite revival movements of Southern Iraq. They urged on mobilization of Lebanese impoverished and marginalized Shiite community. In 1974, Imam Musa Sadr, founded the Lebanese Shiites political movement, “Movement of Dispossessed” what was called later Amal (Hope) movement. During the Israeli invasion, the Shiite leaders who favored military response to the Israel occupiers and creation of an Islamic state in Lebanon like one of Iran left Amal and formed Al Amal al Islamiya. This groups headed by Sayed Abbas al Musawi with other Ulama and students founded later the “the Hezbollah Lebanon”. They received both financial and training assistance from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Syria and other Shiite groups. They attacked the southern and south parts of Lebanon where were occupied by Israelis. Their attack on the Israel Defense Force (IDF) and US military made them publicly popular as defenders of Lebanon against foreign occupations.

Hezbollah largely continued its underground activities until released its political manifesto in 1985. The manifesto explained their political, militant, and anti-imperialism position which was highly influenced by views of the Grand Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini. In 2009, they announced updates on the first manifesto of Hezbollah. In 1989, Taif Agreement (negotiated ...

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Bibliography

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casey L.Addis, C. M. (2011, January 3). Hezbulla's origins. Hezbullah: Background and issues for congress, 33. doi:www.crs.gov

For a Better Lebanon. (2008, February 18). Retrieved from Hezbolla's Manifesto: http://forabetterlebanon.blogspot.com/2008/02/hizbollahs-manifesto-english-version.html

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Roy, O. (1996). The Failure of Politcal Islam.