Israel Foreign Ministry - HIZBULLAH IDF
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HIZBULLAH IDF
Spokesman - June 6, 1994
The Hizbullah is an umbrella organization of various radical Shi'ite groups and
organizations which adhere to a Khomeinistic ideology. The organization was
established following the 1982 Peace for Galilee War in Lebanon (and an increased
Iranian presence and influence in Lebanon). The Hizbullah organization was
established as an organizational body for Shi'ite fundamentalists, led by religious
clerics, who see in the adoption of Iranian doctrine a solution to the Lebanese political
malaise. This included the use of terror as a means of attaining political objectives.
Toward the end of 1982 Iran sent fighters from its 'Iranian Revolutionary Guards' in
order to assist in the establishment of a revolutionary Islamic movement in Lebanon
whose members would participate in the 'Jihad', Holy War, against Israel. These
forces, which were located in the area of Ba'albek in the northern Beqa'a valley,
bestowed on the area an Iranian-Islamic character and constituted the core of the
Hizbullah organization in Lebanon. The organization maintains a training apparatus
in Lebanon throughout the villages and their surroundings, as well as outside of
Lebanon. Training is aimed at building a reliable manpower source for its military
forces as well as for its terror arm. The spiritual father of the movement in Lebanon is
Sheikh Muhammed Hussein Fadlallah who acts as chief Mujtahid - arbiter of Islamic
law - of the Shi'ite community in Lebanon. With the passage of time, Hizbullah has
turned into an organization of secondary level groups working on the local level led
by regional functionaries.
IDEOLOGY
The ideological basis of Hizbullah is Khomeinism and its principle goal is the
establishment of a pan-Islamic republic headed by religious clerics. The
organization's world view was first published in its political platform in February 1985,
as follows: * 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 citizen's. * The Hizbullah organization views as an important goal the fight
against 'western imperialism' and its eradication from Lebanon. The group strives for
complete American and French withdrawal from Lebanon, including all their
institutions. * The conflict with Israel is viewed as a central concern. This is not only
limited to the IDF presence in Lebanon. Rather, the complete destruction of the State
of Israel and the establishment of Islamic rule over Jerusalem is an expressed goal.
Part of this radical ideology is the group's militant approach using terror as a means of
attaining its goals. Hizbullah decries the existence of Israel ('the little Satan'), viewed
as foreign to the region and which constitutes a threat to Islam and Muslims. The
destruction of Israel and the liberation of Jerusalem is deemed a religious obligation.
The Hizbullah organization justifies the use of terror against these enemies as a
weapon in the hands of the weak and oppressed against the strong aggressor. In an
effort to act upon and realise the predetermined ideological lines the group's leaders
actively plan and perpetrate terror attacks against IDF and SLA forces, preach
religious extremism against Israel and disseminate Iranian ideology. The Hizbullah
extends the conflict into Israeli territory and does not restrict its struggle to areas in
Lebanon. With the signing of the 'Ta'if Agreement' (1989) and the beginning of the
'Syrian arrangement in Lebanon, the Hizbullah has been forced to conform to Syrian
dictates. The Syrian interest in the continuation of terrorist attacks in South Lebanon
has enabled the Hizbollah to maintain its unique status in the Lebanese arena as the
only major military force yet to be disarmed. The Syrians have prevented the
Lebanese government from harming the military capabilities of the Hizbullah, under
the pretext of opposing the Israeli occupation, while at the same time enforcing their
dictates upon the organization during periods when they are interested in calming the
situation in southern Lebanon (as was the case following 'Operation Accountability in
July 1993 or the period coinciding with the Assad-Clinton meeting in January 1994).
THE SPREAD OF HIZBULLAH INTO SOUTHERN LEBANON
As the organizational infrastructure developed, Hizbullah, with Iranian and Syrian
assistance, began to establish an extensive military network in the Ba'albek area. Its
militias have since spread into the Shi'ite neighborhoods in southern and western
Beirut as well as into southern Lebanon. This network is the principle base of
Hizbullah activities as well as for those of other radical Shi'ite groups. Thousands of
Hizbullah activists and members are located in the Beqa'a valley, Beirut and southern
Lebanon. These areas also offer a base for the recruitment of additional activists and
fighters among the local Shi'ite populations. Following the IDF withdrawal from
Lebanon in 1985 the Hizbollah organization consolidated itself. The consolidation
included the establishment of storage depots for weapons, recruitment of activists and
fighters, and widespread aid to residents in S. Lebanon, such as the donation of
money, equipment, medical supplies, etc. The purpose of the aid was to gain the
support of the local population in favour of the organizations activities in the South.
ATTACKS AND TERRORISM
Using cover names such as 'Islamic Jihad', 'The Revolutionary Justice Organization'
and 'The Islamic Resistance', with the blessings of its religious leaders, Hizbullah has
carried out a series of high profile attacks against Israeli targets in southern Lebanon
and American and Multinational Forces targets in Lebanon. Only later did their
attacks become more intensive as well as demonstrating better planning, especially
immediately prior to the opening of the peace process. In 1991, the Hizbullah was
responsible for 52 attacks, as compared to 19 attacks the organization carried out in
1990. In 1992, the Hizbollah launched 63 attacks and in 1993, 158 attacks, when
during the course of 'Operation Accountability' they fired hundreds of Katyusha
rockets into the Security Zone and Israeli territory. .
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