Since its founding in 1948, Israeli has faced constant threats to its security. In the early year, the most serious threats to Israel’s existence were from other nations such as Egypt, Jordan and Syria. Over the last two decades, however national threats to Israel has mainly been replaced by threats from non-state actors such as Islamic fundamentalist groups and terrorist organizations. One of the most serious of these groups is Hezbollah.
Hezbollah is a part Islamic fundamentalist group, part Lebanese political party, part terrorist organization. Its beginning can be traced to the Lebanese Civil War between 1975 and 1990. Initially, Shia Lebanese, who mainly resided in southern and southeastern Lebanon, where drawn into support for the exiled Palestinians fighting against Israel from their positions in southern Lebanon. When Israel invaded southern Lebanon is 1982 as a response, a number of Shia militants decided that it would be best to form their own organization to fight against Israel and the return of their land to Lebanese control. Under the efforts of a group of militants, including Subhi al-Tufayli, Abbas al-Musawi and Hassan Nasrallah, who had previously been in Iraq to study Islamic philosophy, political thought and theology under influential Shia cleric Mohammed Baqir al-Sadr. Al-Musawi and Nasrallah, Hezbollah or the Party of God was established in the early 1980s with its stated primary mission as the destruction of the Israeli state, the expulsion of U.S. and Western influence from the Middle East and the establishment of an Islamic State in Lebanon (CFR, 2014). In addition, they also pledged their support to Iran under its then leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (CFR, 2014).
Soon after its founding, Hezbollah made good on its mission. In 1983, Hezbollah conducted suicide attacks against the U.S. Embassy in Beirut and the military barrack were U.S. peacekeeping forces were stationed. As a result of the attacks, over 300 people were killed and injured. In 1992, the committed a suicide attack against a Jewish community center in Argentina; killing and injuring nearly 400 people. In addition, for over two decades, Hezbollah has consistent carried out attacks against Israeli forces on the border with Lebanon as well as launch hundreds of rocket attacks against Israel’s interior.
Hezbollah’s pledge of loyalty to Iran, has also been extremely beneficial to its continued existence, vitality and strength. In its early years, Iran sent advisors from its Revolutionary Guards to train and organize Hezbollah forces. Such assistance continues to the present. Indeed, according to the U.S. State Department Iran is estimated to provide Hezbollah with as much as U.S. $200 million per year in funding as well as a constant supply of arms, armaments and logistical support. Additionally, prior to the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War, Hezbollah also received funds, arms, and assistance from the government of Bashir al-Assad.
Since its founding, Hezbollah’s main base of operations has remained in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley in southeastern Lebanon. It also maintains a significant area of operations in southern Beirut. More recently, however it has also expanded into Syria were it is fighting in support of the Assad regime. While exact numbers are not known, Hezbollah has stated that at any one time, it has between 5,000 and 10,000 fighters at its command (CFR, 2014).
Hezbollah’s leadership has been extremely consistent since its founding. Originally, in its early years Subhi al-Tufayli served as Hezbollah’s first leader, a title formerly known as general secretary. After a falling out, in 1991, al-Tufayi was replaced by Abbas al-Musawi, who was elected as the general-secretary of the organization. Al-Musawi, however, was assassinated in 1992 by Israeli forces. After al-Musawi’s death, Hassan Nasrallah was unanimously elected to replace him as the general -secretary (White, 2010). It is an opposition that he has held ever since. As one of the founding members, Nasrallah not only has a deep understanding of the organizations strengths and weakness but also is a key connection to its supports in Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East (White, 2010). Moreover, he has consistently remained true to its mission and getting others within the organization to follow his lead. Next in line in Hezbollah leadership is Naim Qassem. Qassem holds the position of deputy secretary-general, a position he has held since 1992. Prior to his being elected, Qassem had only formerly been a member of Hezbollah since 1989 (CFR, 2014). He was however quickly able to rise through the ranks.
In the face of threats from Hezbollah and others, Israel has developed and employed a comprehensive counterterrorist policy whose purpose is not only to stop an attack from ever happening, but also to make it as painful as possible for the enemy, if they succeed in an attack, that they will think twice before doing it again. One of its more controversial counterterrorist strategies is known as targeted or selective assassination. This strategy refers to the killing of “high-value targets” of an enemy such as the 1992 killing of Hezbollah’s al-Musawi (Jansen, 2008). Another, somewhat less controversial strategy is the invasion, occupation and controlling of territories known to be the home of its enemies (Jansen, 2008). This was illustrated in the 1982 invasion and occupation of southern Lebanon as well as the second occupation of Lebanon in 2006. To be sure, while Israel’s collective punishment strategies may assuage Israeli feeing for revenge as well as inflict a certain amount of pain on its enemies; the evidence suggests that when all facts are considered, it is not a very effective method. First, it has not seemed to deter groups like Hezbollah from their mission. Second, it seems to cause recurring cycles of violence as injured parties swear revenge. Lastly, Israeli does not seem significant safer than it was before. Again, if the purpose of the strategies is to punish its enemies, then it has been successful, but if it is to permanently stop the attacks, it leaves much to be desired.
References
Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). (2014). CFR Backgrounders: Hezbollah. Retrieved from http://www.cfr.org/lebanon/hezbollah-k-hizbollah-hizbullaf/p9155
Jansen, P.T. (2008) The consequences of Israel’s counter terrorism policy. Retrieved from https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/10023/439/6/Pia%20Jansen%20PhD%20thesis.pdf
White, J.R. (2010). Terrorism and Homeland Security, 7th ed. New York, NY: Wadsworth Publishing.
