Hezbollah (حزب الله) a Look Into the History and Ideology of a Terrorist Group Turned Political Powerhouse
HEZBOLLAH (حزب الله)
A LOOK INTO THE HISTORY AND IDEOLOGY
OF A TERRORIST GROUP TURNED POLITICAL POWERHOUSE
BY
DEAN M. KEMP
TERRORISM (ADJ 202)
DELAWARE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
BACKGROUND
Hezbollah is also known as: Islamic Jihad, Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine, Organization of the Oppressed on Earth, Party of God, Revolutionary Justice Organization, and The Islamic Resistance. The name “Hezbollah” is Arabic, which translates to, “Party of God,” and whose name comes from a Koranic verse promising triumph to all those who join the Party of God. Shia clergymen founded Hezbollah in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley in 1982, with the goal of driving Israel from Lebanon, and establishing an Islamic state there. Hezbollah closely coordinated its efforts with Iran, and quickly became an effective fighting force thanks to the training, weapons, and funding of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, who was operating in Lebanon at the time. Soon thereafter, Hezbollah began running training camps for not only its members, but for other terrorist organizations on how to conduct assassinations, kidnapping, suicide bombings, and guerilla warfare. In addition to Lebanon, Hezbollah’s security apparatus operates in parts of North and South America, Europe, East Asia, and other parts of the Middle East.
Hezbollah’s current goals include the establishment of a Shiite theocracy in Lebanon, the destruction of Israel, and the elimination of Western influences from the Middle East. Over the last twenty plus years, Hezbollah has not only professionalized its military capabilities but also joined Lebanon 's political process and enmeshed itself into the social fabric of Lebanese society.
IDEOLOGY
The ideological framework of Hezbollah was religious and pan-Islamic, regarding Khomeini and his successors as the source of authority. It aimed at the establishment of an Islamic regime in Lebanon. As such it considered the Lebanese government as
A LOOK INTO THE HISTORY AND IDEOLOGY
OF A TERRORIST GROUP TURNED POLITICAL POWERHOUSE
BY
DEAN M. KEMP
TERRORISM (ADJ 202)
DELAWARE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
BACKGROUND
Hezbollah is also known as: Islamic Jihad, Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine, Organization of the Oppressed on Earth, Party of God, Revolutionary Justice Organization, and The Islamic Resistance. The name “Hezbollah” is Arabic, which translates to, “Party of God,” and whose name comes from a Koranic verse promising triumph to all those who join the Party of God. Shia clergymen founded Hezbollah in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley in 1982, with the goal of driving Israel from Lebanon, and establishing an Islamic state there. Hezbollah closely coordinated its efforts with Iran, and quickly became an effective fighting force thanks to the training, weapons, and funding of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, who was operating in Lebanon at the time. Soon thereafter, Hezbollah began running training camps for not only its members, but for other terrorist organizations on how to conduct assassinations, kidnapping, suicide bombings, and guerilla warfare. In addition to Lebanon, Hezbollah’s security apparatus operates in parts of North and South America, Europe, East Asia, and other parts of the Middle East.
Hezbollah’s current goals include the establishment of a Shiite theocracy in Lebanon, the destruction of Israel, and the elimination of Western influences from the Middle East. Over the last twenty plus years, Hezbollah has not only professionalized its military capabilities but also joined Lebanon 's political process and enmeshed itself into the social fabric of Lebanese society.
IDEOLOGY
The ideological framework of Hezbollah was religious and pan-Islamic, regarding Khomeini and his successors as the source of authority. It aimed at the establishment of an Islamic regime in Lebanon. As such it considered the Lebanese government as
Bibliography: Alagha, Joseph E. The Shifts in Hezbollah’s Ideology: Religious Ideology, Political Ideology, and Political Program - 2006 Azani, Eitan. Hezbollah: The Story of the Party of God, From Revolution to Institutionalization - 2009 Encyclopedia Britannica, Hezbollah Available on-line at: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/264741/Hezbollah Global Terrorism Database, Terror Incidents Available on-line at: http://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/search/Results.aspx?perpetrator=407 Hezbollah. “Statement of purpose.” Retrieved from the Hezbollah Official Website. Available on-line at: http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/300/320/324/324.2/hizballah/statement01.html. White, Jonathan R. Terrorism & Homeland Security 7th Edition - 2012