The Axis of Evil: Iran, Hizballah, and the Palestinian Terror by Shaul Shay

Author:Shaul Shay [Shay, Shaul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social Science, Political Science, Terrorism, Regional Studies
ISBN: 9781351322461
Google: uLo6DwAAQBAJ
Goodreads: 36704960
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2005-03-30T00:00:00+00:00

Hizballah and Iran’s Policy following the IDF’s Withdrawal from Lebanon (May 2000)

The Hizballah and its patron Iran regard the IDF’s one-sided withdrawal from Lebanon as a victory and proof that through armed conflict it is possible to defeat Israel. This message is emphasized repeatedly in speeches delivered by Hassan Nasrallah, secretary-general of the Hizballah, who called on the Palestinians to break off negotiations and launch an armed struggle, which did indeed occur in September 2000 with the outbreak of the Al Aksa Intifada.

The Hizballah does not regard the IDF withdrawal from Lebanon as the end of the conflict. Moreover, it views the continued conflict against Israel as a central component of its ideology and a central justification for its perpetuation as an armed power in the Lebanese arena. The organization claims that the struggle against Israel must continue for the following reasons:

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Liberation of the remaining Lebanese soil, which the organization claims is still under Israeli occupation. This refers mainly to the Shab’a Farms (the Mount Dov region), but also to additional areas like the “Seven Villages.” (These areas are located beyond the line of the international boundary and since 1949 have been included in the area of the State of Israel.)

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Defense of Lebanese sovereignty and citizens — The organization regards itself as obligated to respond to what it perceives as Israeli actions that violate Lebanese sovereignty. The organization believes that any harm caused to the Lebanese population or infrastructure by Israel must be countered by an attack against Israeli civilian targets.

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The release of Lebanese prisoners and detainees being held in Israeli prisons: The organization demands the release of detainees and prisoners, particularly Dirani and Obeid.13 The Hizballah claims that the kidnapping of three IDF soldiers on October 7, 2000 and the kidnapping of Israeli citizen Elhanan Tanenbaum were perpetrated in order to bring about the liberation of the organization’s prisoners and those affiliated with Palestinian organizations.

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In January 2004, Israel and Hizballah reached an agreement for exchange of prisoners, abductees and bodies. (The mediator was the German Ernest Uhrlau).

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Israel released 424 prisoners, including sheikh Abdel Karim Obeid and Mustafa Dirani.

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Hizballah released the Israeli civilian Elhanan Tannenbaum and the bodies of the three Israeli soldiers whom the Hizballah had kidnapped in October 2000.

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Aid and support for the Palestinian armed struggle and a demand to solve the problem of the Palestinian refugees, while placing emphasis on those living in Lebanon.

With the aim of perpetuating the struggle against Israel after its withdrawal from Lebanon, the Hizballah has been acting on several levels with Iranian and Syrian aid:

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Deployment of the organization’s infrastructure along the border with Israel, which enables defensive alignment on the one hand, and the perpetration of offensive terror activities, on the other;

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Perpetration of terror activity mainly in the Mount Dov (Shab’ a Farms) sector, which is perceived by the organization and by Syria and Lebanon as a “legitimate” sector for activity;

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The development of a “strategic arm” of long-range rockets as a strategic deterrence component in the hands of the organization and Iran

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