Hezbollah and Canon Rock (music): Difference between pages

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Difference between pages)
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→‎Suicide attacks and kidnappings: Don''t understand the relevance of this addition
 
No edit summary
 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox Song <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs -->
{{sprotect|small=yes}}
| Name = Canon Rock
{{otheruses}}
| Cover =
{{Infobox_Social_Political_Party
| Caption = The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjA5faZF1A8 video] of Pachelbel's Canon has been viewed over 50 million times on [[YouTube]]
| party_name = Hezbollah
| Artist = [[JerryC]]
| party_logo = [[Image:Flag of Hezbollah.svg|140px|Hezbollah emblem]]<br>([[Flag of Hezbollah|Hezbollah flag]])
| leader = [[Hassan Nasrallah]]
| alt Artist = <center>[[Jeong-Hyun Lim]]</center>
| foundation = 1982 - 1985 (officially)
| Recorded = Somewhere in [[Taiwan]]
| ideology = [[Islamism]]
| Genre = [[Neo-classical metal]]
| religion = [[Shi'a Islam]]
| Length = 05:21
| nationality = [[Lebanon|Lebanese]]
| Writer = [[Johann Pachelbel]]
| Composer = [[JerryC]]
| website = Varies. See [[#External links|List of official sites]].
|}}
}}
"'''Canon Rock'''" is a [[neo-classical metal]] arrangement of [[Johann Pachelbel]]'s ''[[Pachelbel's Canon|Canon in D major]]'' by the [[Taiwanese people|Taiwanese]] musician and composer [[JerryC| Jerry Chang]] (JerryC). The composition contains a variety of melodic licks (more suitable for the advanced guitarists), showing Jerry's unique way of phrasing and his immense finger dexterity. The piece became popular on the internet after a video of [[JerryC]] playing the piece was posted [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8590308394895590930 online]. The rendition has been featured in newspapers, magazines, and television shows. The re-arrangement was composed within two weeks.
'''Hezbollah'''<ref>Other [[Romanization of Arabic|transliterations]] include '''Hizbullah''', '''Hizbollah''', '''Hezballah''', '''Hizballah''', '''Hisbollah''', and '''Hizb [[Allah]]'''.</ref> ({{lang-ar|حزب الله}} ''{{ArabDIN|ḥizba-llāh}}'',<ref>In English the stress is most commonly placed on the final syllable, as suggested in the ''Shorter Oxford English Dictionary'' (this is in accord with the Persian pronunciation, of Iran); in the Arabic of Hezbollah's theatre of operations it is most commonly placed on the second syllable. ''Hizb'' (party) is the [[Modern Standard Arabic]] pronunciation, and ''hezb'' is closer to [[Persian language|Persian]] and [[Lebanese Arabic|Lebanese dialect]]. The name is derived from a [[Qur’an]]ic ''[[ayat]]'' (verse) referring to those who belong to and follow the "party of [[Islamic concept of God|God]]" [http://www.almizan.org/Tafseer/Volume11/11Maida1.asp].</ref> literally "[[Political party|party]] of [[Allah|God]]") is a [[Shi'a]] [[Islamic]] political and [[paramilitary]] organisation based in [[Lebanon]].<ref name="HG20Ak02">{{cite web |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HG20Ak02.html |title=Hezbollah's transformation |first=Dahr |last=Jamail |publisher=Asia Times |date=2006-07-20 |accessdate=2007-10-23}}</ref> The group is considered a [[terrorist organization]] by the [[United States]], [[Israel]], [[Canada]], and the [[Netherlands]]. The [[United Kingdom]] and [[Australia]] consider a military wing of Hezbollah (external security organisation) a terrorist organization.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7485213.stm</ref><ref name="UKHO">[http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/security/terrorism-and-the-law/terrorism-act/proscribed-groups?version=1 British Homeoffice official listing] of Proscribed terrorist groups</ref><ref>[http://www.aussiemuslims.net/index.php?Itemid=45&id=265&option=com_content&task=view aussiemuslims.net]</ref><ref>[http://www.arabmediawatch.com/amw/CountryBackgrounds/Lebanon/MediaMyths/Hezbollahisaterroristorganisation/tabid/314/Default.aspx arabmediawatch.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?id=10923 EU lawmakers label Hizbollah 'terrorist’ group]</ref> It is a significant force in [[Politics of Lebanon|Lebanese politics]], providing social services, which operate schools, hospitals, and agricultural services for thousands of Lebanese Shiites.<ref name="CFR">{{cite web|url=http://www.cfr.org/publication/9155/hezbollah.html?breadcrumb=%2F |title=Hezbollah (a.k.a. Hizbollah, Hizbu'llah) |first=|last=|publisher=[[Council on Foreign Relations]]|date=2008-09-13|accessdate=2008-09-15}}</ref> It is regarded as a legitimate [[resistance movement]] throughout most of the Arab and Muslim world.<ref name="HG20Ak02" />


Currently, [[JerryC]] is hosting lessons to teach Canon Rock to amateurs.
Hezbollah first emerged as a militia in response to the [[1982 Lebanon War|Israeli invasion of Lebanon]], also known as [[Operation Peace for Galilee]], in 1982, set on resisting the [[Israeli occupation of Lebanon]] during the [[Lebanese civil war]].<ref name="bbc-hi-me">{{cite web|title=Who are Hezbollah| first=|last=|publisher=[[BBC News]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4314423.stm |date=2008-05-21|accessdate=2008-08-15}}</ref><ref name="HG20Ak02" /> Its leaders were inspired by [[Ruhollah Khomeini|Ayatollah Khomeini]], and its forces were trained and organized by a contingent of [[Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution|Iranian Revolutionary Guards]].<ref name="nybooks">{{cite web|url=http://www.nybooks.com/articles/17060|title= In Search of Hezbollah|author=Adam Shatz|publisher=[[The New York Review of Books]]|date=April 29, 2004|accessdate=2006-08-14}}</ref> Hezbollah's 1985 manifesto listed its three main goals as "putting an end to any [[colonialist]] entity" in Lebanon, bringing the [[Kataeb Party|Phalangists]] to justice for "the crimes they [had] perpetrated," and the establishment of an [[Islamic republic|Islamic regime]] in Lebanon.<ref name="The Hizballah Program">{{cite web |url=http://www.standwithus.com/pdfs/flyers/hezbollah_program.pdf |title=The Hizballah Program |publisher=provided by standwithus. com ([[StandWithUs]]) |author=author unknown|accessdate=2007-10-29|format=PDF}}</ref><ref name="Stalinsky">Stalinsky, Steven. [http://www.nysun.com/article/37184 "An Islamic Republic Is Hezbollah's Aim."] ''[[The New York Sun]]''. 2 August 2006. 1 November 2007.</ref> Recently, however, Hezbollah has made little mention of establishing an [[Islamic state]], and forged alliances across religious lines.<ref name="nybooks"/> Hezbollah leaders have also made numerous statements calling for the destruction of Israel, which they refer to as a "[[Zionist entity]]... built on lands wrested from their owners."<ref name="The Hizballah Program"/><ref name="Stalinsky" />


==Covers==
Hezbollah maintains strong support among Lebanon's Shi'a population, and gained a surge of support from Lebanon's broader population ([[Sunni]], [[Christian]], [[Druze]]) immediately following the [[2006 Lebanon War]],<ref>[http://www.mideastmonitor.org/issues/0609/0609_6.htm Briefing: Lebanese Public Opinion]</ref> and is able to mobilize demonstrations of hundreds of thousands.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4329201.stm "Huge Beirut protest backs Syria."] ''[[BBC News]]''. 8 March 2005. 7 February 2007.</ref> It has also gained significantly in military strength the last few years.<ref name="met">{{cite news |first= MelL |last= Frykberg |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Mideast Powers, Proxies and Paymasters Bluster and Rearm |url= http://www.metimes.com/International/2008/08/29/mideast_powers_proxies_and_paymasters_bluster_and_rearm/5485/ |work= [[Middle East Times]] |publisher= |date=2008-08-29 |accessdate=2008-08-29 |quote= And if there is one thing that ideologically and diametrically opposed Hezbollah and Israel agree on, it is Hezbollah's growing military strength.}}</ref> In May of 2008 Hezbollah seized control of Beirut, crushing the military of Lebanon's main Sunni political leader, [[Saad Hariri]], forcing his television off the air, and burning two of his buildings. Since then, the sectarian rift has widened.<ref name="Times_2008_May-18">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/world/middleeast/18lebanon.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2&fta=y&oref=slogin|title=Hezbollah Ignites a Sectarian Fuse in Lebanon|accessdate=2008-10-08|publisher=New York Times|year=May 18, 2008|author=Robert F Worth and Nada Bakri}}</ref> Hezbollah receives its financial support from [[Iran]], [[Syria]], and the donations of Lebanese Shi'a.<ref name="irinnews52494">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=52494&SelectRegion=Middle_East
|title=LEBANON: The many hands and faces of Hezbollah
|author=UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
|date=2006-03-29
|accessdate=2006-08-17}}
</ref><ref name="Haaretz 746631">[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=746631 Iranian official admits Tehran supplied missiles to Hezbollah]</ref> Hezbollah has "operated with neighbouring Syria's blessing" since the end of the Civil War.<ref name="bbc-hi-me"/> Hezbollah, which started with only a small militia, has grown to an organization with seats in the [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] government, a radio and a [[Al-Manar|satellite television-station]], and programs for [[social development]].<ref name="deeb-hzb-a-primer">
{{cite web
|title=Hizballah: A Primer
|last=Deeb
|first=Lara
|date=2006-07-31
|publisher=Middle East Report
|url=http://www.merip.org/mero/mero073106.html
|accessdate=2006-07-31}}
</ref> Despite a June 2008 certification by the United Nations that Israel had withdrawn from all Lebanese territory, <ref name="SC/6878">{{cite web | date=[[2000-06-18]] | publisher=United Nations Security Council | title=Security council endorses secretary-general's conclusion on Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon as of 16 June | url=http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2000/20000618.sc6878.doc.html | accessdate=2006-09-29}}</ref>
in August of that year, Lebanon's new Cabinet unanimously approved a draft policy statement which secures Hezbollah's existence as an armed organization and guarantees its right to "liberate or recover [[Shebaa farms|occupied lands]]." Since 1992, the organization has been headed by [[Hassan Nasrallah]], its [[Secretary-General]].
{{Hezbollah}}


{{Sound sample box align right|Music sample:}}
==History==
{{Listen
{{main|History of Hezbollah}}
|filename=Jeong-Hyun_Lim_-_Canon.ogg
[[Image:BlueLine2.jpg|thumb|375px|left|Map of southern Lebanon, featuring the [[Blue Line (Lebanon)|Blue Line]] and [[Litani River]], 2006.]]
|title=Jeong-Hyun Lim "Canon Rock"
|description=30 second sample from [[Jeong-Hyun Lim]]'s performance of Canon Rock
|format=[[Ogg]]}}
{{sample box end}}


The most famous of the covers is by a [[South Korea]]n guitarist named [[Jeong-Hyun Lim]], who is more popularly known by his internet alias, "funtwo". His video is the sixteenth most viewed and fourth most "favorited" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjA5faZF1A8 video] in [[YouTube]] history<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/browse?s=mp&t=a|title=List of YouTube videos by all-time views}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/browse?s=mf&t=a|title=List of YouTube videos by all-time top favorites}}</ref> with over 50 million views and counting.
===Foundation===
Scholars differ as to when Hezbollah came to be a distinct entity. Some organizations list the official formation of the group as early as 1982 <ref> [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/hizballah.htm GlobalSecurity.org, 2005] </ref> whereas Diaz and Newman maintain that Hezbollah remained an amalgamation of various violent Shi’a extremists until as late as 1985 <ref> Diaz & Newman, 2005, p. 55 </ref>. Another version states that it was formed by supporters of [[Sheikh]] [[Ragheb Harb]], a leader of the southern Shiite resistance killed by Israel in 1984.<ref>Helena Cobban, Boston Review [http://bostonreview.net/BR30.2/cobban.html Hizbullah’s New Face] Accessed August 14, 2006</ref>


Many people have covered Canon Rock, often posting videos of the cover on sites such as [[YouTube]] or [[Google Video]]. For the best example of this, there is a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMWl_5NujBw&feature=related medley] posted to [[YouTube]] in June 2007 which features over two dozen different individuals playing this piece.
== Military activities ==
{{Mainarticle|Hezbollah military activities}}
Hezbollah has a military branch known as ''Al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya'' ("The Islamic Resistance") and is the possible sponsor of a number of lesser-known militant groups, some of which may be little more than fronts for Hezbollah itself, including the Organization of the Oppressed, the Revolutionary Justice Organization, the Organization of Right Against Wrong, and Followers of the Prophet Muhammad.<ref name='USDbackground2801'>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/rpt/fto/2801.htm
|title=Background Information on Foreign Terrorist Organizations
|author=US Department of State
|date=1999-10-08
|accessdate=2007-02-05}}
</ref><ref name="canadag20030213-137">
{{cite web
|url=http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partII/2003/20030213-x/html/sor53-e.html
|author=Canada Gazette|title=Canada Gazette Vol. 137, no 1
|date=2003-02-12
|accessdate=2006-07-25}}
</ref>


Many Canon Rock covers are filmed in private locations, allowing the artist to record the performance as many times as needed to achieve a note-perfect recording.
[[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559]] called for the disarmament of militia<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=S/RES/1559%20(2004)&Lang=E&Area=UNDOC
|title=Resolution 1559 (2004)
|author=[[United Nations Security Council]]
|date=2004-09-02
|accessdate=2007-05-01
|quote=3. Calls for the disbanding and disarmament of all Lebanese and non-
Lebanese militias
}}</ref> with the [[Taif agreement]] at the end of the [[Lebanese civil war]]. Hezbollah denounced, and protested against, the resolution.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/html/final/eng/eng_n/hez_e0905.htm
|title=Hezbollah has no intention to disarm
|author=Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Center for Special Studies (Israeli)
|date=2005-09-07
|accessdate=2007-05-01
}}</ref> The 2006 military conflict with Israel has increased the controversy. Failure to disarm remains a violation of the resolution and agreement according to the Israeli Government.<ref>[http://www.adl.org/main_terrorism/hezbollah_overview.htm "Hezbollah: Hezbollah and the Recent Conflict."] ''[[Anti-Defamation League|ADL]]''. 29 September 2006. 26 June 2007.</ref> Since then both Israel and Hezbollah have asserted that the organization has gained in military strength<ref name="met"/>. Most of the Shia consider Hezbollah's weaponry a necessary and justified element of resistance, while less than half of the other religious communities support the idea that Hezbollah should keep its weapons after the [[2006 Lebanon war]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.mideastmonitor.org/issues/0609/0609_6.htm
|title=Briefing: Lebanese Public Opinion
|author=
|date=September-October 2006
|accessdate=2007-10-08
}}</ref> The Lebanese cabinet, under president [[Michel Suleiman]] and Prime Minister [[Fouad Siniora]], guidelines state that Hezbollah enjoys the right to "liberate occupied lands."<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1011868.html Ha'aretz] 14 August 2008, ''UN: We've cleared half the cluster bombs Israel dropped on Lebanon'' By Shlomo Shamir</ref>


==Tablature==
=== Suicide attacks and kidnappings ===
Tablature for JerryC's and MattRach's versions of the piece is available<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/j/jerryc/canon_rock_tab.htm|title=Canon Rock Tab by Jerryc, www.Ultimate-Guitar.Com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/m/misc_unsigned_bands/mattrach_-_new_canon_rock_tab.htm|title=Mattrach - New Canon Rock Tab by Misc Unsigned Bands, www.Ultimate-Guitar.Com}}</ref>.
{{see also|Lebanon hostage crisis}}
Hezbollah has taken responsibility for a number of attacks and kidnappings.<ref name="c">[http://www.cfr.org/publication/9155/#6 Hezbollah] CFR. org Staff, the US [[Council on Foreign Relations]], [[2006-07-17]]</ref><ref name="a">[http://www.aijac.org.au/resources/hezb_00-06.html Hezbollah Attacks Since May 2000] Mitchell Bard, the Jewish [[AIJAC]], [[2006-07-24]]</ref><ref name="cd">[http://www.cdi.org/terrorism/hezbollah.cfm Terrorism - In the Spotlight: Hezbollah (Party of God)] Michael Donovan, [[Center for Defense Information]] cdi.org, [[2002-02-25]]</ref> Between 1982 and 1986, in the midst of the [[Lebanese Civil War]], there were 36 suicide attacks in Lebanon directed against American, French, Lebanese, and Israeli people by 41 individuals of different religions and political ideologies <ref>[http://amconmag.com/2005_07_18/article.html "... eight were Islamic fundamentalists. Twenty-seven were Communists and Socialists. Three were Christians]. The American Conservative, July 18, 2005. Verified 22nd June 2008.</ref>, killing 659. <ref name="pape" /> Hezbollah has been accused of some or all of these attacks, though Hezbollah has denied being involved in any of them.<ref>Sites, Kevin (Scripps Howard News Services). "[http://www.redding.com/redd/nw_columnists/article/0,2232,REDD_17528_4389698,00.html Hezbollah denies terrorist ties, increases role in government]" 2006-01-15</ref><ref>"[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/target/etc/cron.html Frontline: Target America: Terrorist attacks on Americans, 1979-1988]", PBS News, 2001. Accessed 4 February 2007</ref><ref name="leb1">[http://www.lebanon.com/news/local/2003/3/20.htm Hezbollah again denies involvement in deadly Buenos Aires bombing BEIRUT, March 19 (AFP)]</ref> These attacks included the [[April 1983 U.S. Embassy bombing]],<ref name="Ini">[http://camera.org/index.asp?x_context=2&x_outlet=118&x_article=1148 "Timeline of Hezbollah Violence."] ''[[Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America|CAMERA: Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America]]''. 17 July 2006. 18 November 2006. Later reprinted in ''On Campus'' magazine's Fall 2006 issue and attributed the article to author Gilead Ini.</ref> the [[1983 Beirut barracks bombing]],<ref name="c" /><ref name="cd" /><ref name="Ini" /><ref name="NRO">[http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZDczZDYxYTE2MDAxYWU3ODc1ZjEwZTVkMTcyMDhlYmE= "an official with the Iranian Intelligence Service in Tehran phoned the Iranian ambassador in Damascus and issued an order to have them killed...We know about the phone call because it was intercepted by the National Security Agency.....The Hezbollah operative in charge was [[Imad Fayez Mughniyeh]]"] National Review Online, Clifford D. May, Iran’s War.</ref> and a spate of attacks on [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] troops and [[South Lebanon Army|SLA]] militiamen in southern Lebanon.<ref name="pape" /> The period also saw the hijacking of [[TWA Flight 847]] in 1985,<ref name="c" /> and the [[Lebanon hostage crisis]] from 1982 to 1992.<ref name="cd" /> More recently, Hezbollah has been accused of the January 15, 2008, bombing of a U.S. Embassy vehicle in Beirut. <ref name="Stratfor"> [http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/lebanon_hezbollah_and_jan_15_bombing ''Lebanon: Hezbollah and the Jan. 15 Bombing'' ] Stratfor, January 15, 2008 </ref>
<!-- TODO: Need to cover the controvesy around Amal vs. Islamic Jihad vs. Hezbollah as far as responsibility for these attacks. -->

Outside of Lebanon, Hezbollah has been accused of the [[1992 Israeli Embassy attack in Buenos Aires]],<ref name="c" /><ref name="cd" /> and the [[1994 AMIA bombing]] of a Jewish cultural centre, both in Argentina.<ref name="c" /> According to Nasrallah, however, Hezbollah refused any participation in operations outside Lebanese and Israeli lands before 2008.<ref>[http://english.hizbollah.tv/essaydetails.php?eid=2366&cid=214 H.E. Sayyed Nasrallah Speech in Full: History will mark martyr Moghnieh blood as the start of the fall of "Israel"]</ref>

===Conflict with Israel===
====South Lebanon conflict====
{{main|South Lebanon conflict (1982–2000)}}
Hezbollah has been involved in several cases of armed conflict with Israel:

* During the [[1982–2000 South Lebanon conflict]], Hezbollah waged a guerrilla campaign against [[Israel]]i forces occupying [[Southern Lebanon]]. Israel withdrew in 2000 in accordance with 1978's [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 425]].<ref name = "UN">[http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2000/20000618.sc6878.doc.html UN].</ref> With the collapse of their supposed allies, the [[South Lebanon Army|SLA]], and the rapid advance of Hezbollah forces, they withdrew suddenly on May 24, 2000 six weeks before the announced 7 July date."<ref name="Timeline: Lebanon"/> Hezbollah held a victory parade, and its popularity in Lebanon rose.<ref>See:
*{{cite web|publisher=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/26/newsid_2496000/2496423.stm|title=2000: Hezbollah celebrates Israeli retreat|date=2000-05-26|accessdate=2006-07-25}}
*{{web cite|publisher=CNN|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/meast/05/24/israel.lebanon.02/index.html|accessdate=2006-07-25|date=2000-05-24|title=Hezbollah flag raised as Israeli troops withdraw from southern Lebanon}}</ref>
* On July 25, 1993, following the killing of seven Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon, Israel launched [[Operation Accountability]] (known in Lebanon as the Seven Day War), during which the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] carried out their heaviest artillery and air attacks on targets in southern Lebanon since 1982. The declared aim of the operation was to eradicate the threat posed by Hezbollah and to force the civilian population north to Beirut so as to put pressure on the Lebanese Government to repress Hezbollah. The fighting ended when an unwritten understanding was agreed to by the warring parties. Apparently, the 1993 understanding provided that Hezbollah combatants would not fire rockets at northern Israel, while Israel would not attack civilians or civilian targets in Lebanon.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=BBC News|url=http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/engMDE150421996|title=ISRAEL/LEBANON, Unlawful Killings During Operation "Grapes of Wrath" |date=1996-07-24|accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref>
* In April 1996, the Israeli armed forces launched [[Operation Grapes of Wrath]], which was intended to wipe out Hezbollah's base in southern Lebanon. Over 100 Lebanese refugees were [[1996 shelling of Qana|killed by the shelling]] of a [[UN]] base at [[Qana]], in what the Israeli military said was a mistake.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/72493.stm|title=History of Israel's role in Lebanon |date=1998-04-01|accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref> Finally, following several days of negotiations, the two sides signed the [[Israeli-Lebanese Ceasefire Understanding| Grapes of Wrath Understandings]] on April 26, 1996. A cease-fire was agreed upon between Israel and Hezbollah, which would be effective on April 27, 1996. Both sides agreed that civilians should not be targeted, which meant that Hezbollah would be allowed to continue its military activities against IDF forces inside Lebanon.<ref name="cobbanBR30_2"/><ref>{{cite web|publisher=ynetnews|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3284744,00.html|title=Operation Grapes of Wrath |date=2006-08-01|accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref>

====2000 Hezbollah cross-border raid====
{{main|2000 Hezbollah cross-border raid}}
On October 7, 2000, three [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli soldiers]] – Adi Avitan, Staff Sgt. Benyamin Avraham, and Staff Sgt. Omar Sawaidwere – were abducted by Hezbollah while patrolling the Israeli side of the [[Blue Line (Lebanon)|Israeli-Lebanese border]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2001/2/Israelis%20Held%20by%20the%20Hizbullah%20-%20Oct%202000-Jan%202004| title = Israelis Held by the Hizbullah - Oct 2000-Jan 2004| publisher=''[[mfa.gov.il]]''}}</ref> The soldiers were killed either during the attack or in its immediate aftermath.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/01/29/prisoner.exchange/| title = Israel, Hezbollah swap prisoners| publisher=''[[CNN]]''}}</ref><ref>Rothfeld, Michael. [http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-wosold094845198aug09,0,7735684.story "War touches raw nerve for grieving parents."] ''Newsday.com''. 9 August 2006. 21 February 2008.</ref> [[Defense Minister of Israel|Defense Minister]] [[Shaul Mofaz]] has, however, claimed that Hezbollah abducted the soldiers and then killed them.<ref>Gutman, Matthew. [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/access/535881161.html?dids=535881161:535881161&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+29%2C+2004&author=MATTHEW+GUTMAN&pub=Jerusalem+Post&edition=&startpage=01&desc=Prisoner+swap+due+to+go+ahead+today "Prisoner swap due to go ahead today."] ''[[ProQuest]] Archiver''. 21 February 2008</ref><ref>Stevn, Yoav and Eli Ashkenazi. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/758645.html "New film leaves parents in the dark on sons' fate during kidnap."] ''[[Haaretz]] Daily Newspaper''. 6 September 2006. 28 February 2008.</ref> The bodies of the slain soldiers were exchanged for Lebanese prisoners in 2004.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/01/29/prisoner.exchange/ "Israel, Hezbollah swap prisoners."] ''CNN.com International''. 29 January 2004. 20 February 2008.</ref>

====2006 Lebanon War====
{{main|2006 Lebanon War}}

* Hezbollah's desire for Israeli prisoners that could be exchanged with Israel led to [[Zar'it-Shtula incident|Hezbollah's abduction of Israeli soldiers]], which triggered the [[2006 Lebanon War]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/13/world/middleeast/13mideast.html | title=Israelis Enter Lebanon After Attacks | first=Greg |last=Myre | coauthors=Steven Erlanger | publisher = New York Times | date=2006-07-13 | accessdate=2008-01-09}}</ref>

* The [[2006 Lebanon War]] was a 34-day [[war|military conflict]] in [[Lebanon]] and northern [[Israel]]. The principal parties were Hezbollah paramilitary forces and the [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli military]]. The conflict started on July 12, 2006, and continued until a [[United Nations]]-brokered [[ceasefire]] went into effect on August 14, 2006. Hezbollah was responsible for thousands of [[Katyusha]] rocket attacks against Israeli civilian towns and cities in northern Israel,<ref name="a" /> in which Hezbollah said those attacks were retaliation for Israel's killing of civilians and targeting the Lebanese infrastructure.<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-widens-bombing-campaign-as-lebanese-militia-groups-retaliate-407859.html The Independent - Israel widens bombing campaign as Lebanese militia groups retaliate]</ref> The conflict [[Zar'it-Shtula incident|began]] when Hezbollah militants fired [[List of artillery#Rockets|rockets]] at Israeli border towns as a diversion for an [[anti-tank missile]] attack on two armored [[Humvee]]s patrolling the Israeli side of the border fence, killing three, injuring two, and seizing two Israeli soldiers.<ref name="nyt_iht">[[New York Times]] via the [[International Herald Tribune]] (July 12, 2006). [http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/07/13/africa/web.0712mideast.php "Clashes spread to Lebanon as Hezbollah raids Israel"]. Retrieved August 16, 2007.</ref> According to ''[[The Guardian]]'', "In the fighting 1,200 Lebanese and 158 Israelis were killed. Of the dead almost 1,000 Lebanese and 41 Israelis were civilians."<ref> {{cite news|publisher=Guardian|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/syria/story/0,,2029732,00.html|title=Israel planned for Lebanon war months in advance, PM says|date=2007-03-09|accessdate=2008-01-12}}</ref>

===1980s===
{{main|South Lebanon conflict (1982–2000)}}
Ending [[Israel]]'s occupation of Southern Lebanon was the primary focus of Hezbollah's early activities.<ref name="bbc-hi-me"/> Israel had become militarily involved in Lebanon in [[Operation Litani|combat with]] the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], which had invited into Lebanon after [[Black September in Jordan]]. Israel had been attacking the PLO in Southern Lebanon in the lead-up to the [[1982 Lebanon War]], and Israel had invaded and occupied Southern Lebanon and besieged [[Beirut]].<ref>Avi Shlaim (2001) ''The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World'' W.W. Norton, ISBN 0393321126 Chapter 10; The lebanese Quagmire 1981-1984 pp 384-423</ref>

Hezbollah waged an asymmetrical guerrilla war against Israel. At the beginning, it had used [[Istishhad|suicide attacks]] against the [[Israel Defense Forces]] (IDF) and against Israeli targets outside of Lebanon.<ref name="pape">{{cite book |last=Pape |first=Robert |authorlink=Robert Pape |title=Dying to win: the strategic logic of suicide terrorism |loc=New York |publisher=Random House |id=ISBN 1-4000-6317-5 |year=2005 }} Specifically: "Suicide Terrorist Campaigns, 1980-2003", Appendix 1. (Page 253 of Australian paperback edition, published by Scribe Publications)</ref> Hezbollah is reputed to have been among the first Islamic resistance groups to use tactical suicide bombing, assassination, and capturing against foreign soldiers in the Middle East.<ref name=nybooks/> But gradually, Hezbollah turned into a paramilitary organization and used missiles, [[Katyusha]], and other type of rocket launchers and detonations of explosive charges<ref>[http://www.zionism-israel.com/dic/Hezbollah.htm Zionism and Israel - Encyclopedic Dictionary, Hezbollah Definition]</ref><ref>[http://www.swp.ie/newleftjournal/02/nlj02-01.htm Hezbollah – the real story] dead link</ref> instead of capturings,<ref name="HCR190">
{{cite web
|url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c101:H.CON.RES.190:
|publisher=[[The Library of Congress]]
|date=1989-08-04
|accessdate=2006-08-08
|title=Expressing the sense of the Congress over the reported murder of Lieutenant Colonel William Higgins and Hezbollah-sponsored terrorism.
|author=H. CON. RES. 190, 1st session, 101st congress}}
</ref><ref>
[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/02/21/whizb21.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/02/21/ixworld.html Telegraph, 2004/2/21]</ref> murders,<ref name="HCR190" /> hijackings,<ref name="Timeline: Lebanon">{{cite web|title=Timeline: Lebanon|date=2008-07-19|accessdate=2008-09-15|publisher=[[BBC News]]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/country_profiles/819200.stm|accessdate=}}</ref> and bombings.<ref name="Timeline: Lebanon"/><ref>[http://library.nps.navy.mil/home/tgp/hizbalah.htm United States Department of State, April 2005.]</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/low/dates/stories/July/26/newsid_2499000/2499619.stm| title=On this day|publisher=BBC News|date=1994-07-26|accessdate=2006-07-26}}</ref> Hezbollah has been subject to assassination and abduction by Israel as well.<ref name="Timeline: Lebanon" />

===After 1990===
Israel withdrew its troops from southern Lebanon, more than six weeks before its stated deadline of 7 July consequently On 24 May 2000, [[South Lebanon Army]] (SLA) collapsed and Hezbollah made a rapid advance.<ref name="Timeline: Lebanon" /> Hezbollah and many analysts considered this a victory for the movement, and since then its popularity has been boosted in Lebanon.<ref>See:
*{{cite web|publisher=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/26/newsid_2496000/2496423.stm|title=2000: Hezbollah celebrates Israeli retreat|date=2000-05-26|accessdate=2006-07-25}}
*{{web cite|publisher=CNN|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/meast/05/24/israel.lebanon.02/index.html|accessdate=2006-07-25|date=2000-05-24|title=Hezbollah flag raised as Israeli troops withdraw from southern Lebanon}}</ref><ref name="npr5555771">[[Ted Koppel]] on [[NPR]] report: [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5555771 ''Lebanon's Hezbollah Ties'']. [[All Things Considered]], July 13, 2006.</ref>


===Conflict with the United States===

Asharq Alawsat reported on August 18, 2008, that Iran denied that Hizbullah operatives were involved in attacks against U.S. and Iraqi forces in four Iraqi provinces. In June 2006, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield disclosed that Hizbullah cadres had attacked U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq. Hizbullah units claimed responsibility for operations against coalition forces and Iraqi security personnel as early as the latter part of 2005.<ref> {{cite news|publisher=Guardian|url=http://www.asharqalawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=1&id=13772|title=Iran's Revolutionary Guard to Train Iraqi Shiite Youths|date=2008-08-18|accessdate=2008-08-18}}</ref>

In June 2006, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield disclosed that Hizbullah cadres had attacked U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq.<ref> {{cite news|publisher=Guardian|url=http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2716|title=“Who Was Imad Mughniyeh?”|date=2008-02-14|accessdate=2008-02-14}}</ref>

In his testimony before the Armed Services Committees of the Congress on April 8, 2008, General David Petraeus, the commander of the multinational forces in Iraq, reported that the Iranian Qods Force, with the assistance of Lebanese Hizbullah’s Department 2800, was training, arming and guiding the “Special Groups” in Iraq.<ref> {{cite news|url=http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&lang=arabic&id=18280|title=“Multi-National Force - Iraq”|}}</ref>

=== Armed strength ===
[[Image:Hezbollah territory.JPG|thumb|250px|right|A sign erected after the 2006 Israeli-Lebanon war in [[South Lebanon]] which says ''the principal precept is protecting the resistance'']]
{{see also|Hezbollah armed strength}}
Hezbollah has not revealed its armed strength. It has been estimated by Mustafa Alani, security director at the Dubai-based Gulf Research Centre, that Hezbollah's military force is made up of about 1,000 full-time Hezbollah members, along with a further 6,000-10,000 volunteers.<ref name="Hezbollah force">[http://www.iiss.org/whats-new/iiss-in-the-press/press-coverage-2006/july-2006/hezbollah-a-force-to-be-reckoned-with July 18th - - Agence France Presse - Analysis: Hezbollah a force to be reckoned with]</ref>

Hezbollah possesses the [[Katyusha|Katyusha-122]] rocket, which has a range of 29&nbsp;km (18&nbsp;mi) and carries a 15-kg (33-lb) warhead. Hezbollah also possesses about 100 long-range missiles. They include the Iranian-made [[Fajr-3]] and [[Fajr-5]], the latter with a range of {{km to mi|75|abbr=yes}}, enabling it to strike the Israeli port of [[Haifa]], and the [[Zelzal-1]], with an estimated {{km to mi|150|abbr=yes}} range, which can reach [[Tel Aviv]]. Fajr-3 missiles have a range of {{km to mi|40|abbr=yes}} and a 45-kg (99-lb) warhead, and Fajr-5 missiles, which extend to {{km to mi|72|abbr=yes}}, also hold 45-kg (99-lb) warheads.<ref name="Hezbollah force"/>

According to various reports, Hezbollah is armed with [[anti-tank guided missile]]s, namely, the Russian-made [[AT-3 Sagger]], [[AT-4 Spigot]], [[AT-5 Spandrel]], [[Metis-M|AT-13 Saxhorn-2 'Metis-M']], [[9M133 Kornet|АТ-14 Spriggan 'Kornet']]; [[Iran]]ian-made [[RAAD (missile)|Ra'ad]] (version of [[AT-3 Sagger]]), Towsan (version of [[AT-5 Spandrel]]), [[Toophan]] (version of [[BGM-71 TOW]]); and European-made [[MILAN]] missiles. These weapons have been used against [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] soldiers, causing many of the deaths during the [[2006 Lebanon War]].<ref> {{cite web|date=2007-03-18|url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2275334|title=Missiles neutralizing Israeli tanks|publisher=Associated Press}}</ref> A small number of Saeghe-2s (Iranian-made version of [[M47 Dragon]]) were also used in the war.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.jinsa.org/articles/articles.html/function/view/categoryid/158/documentid/3504/history/3,2360,655,158,3504 | title = Hezbollah, Already a Capable Military Force, Makes Full Use of Civilian Shields and Media Manipulation | first = Paul | last = Weitz | publisher = JINSA Online | date = 2006-08-12 | accessdate=2008-01-09}}</ref>

For air defense, Hezbollah has anti-aircraft weapons that include the [[ZU-23]] artillery and the man-portable, shoulder-fired [[Strela 2|SA-7]] and [[SA-18]] [[surface-to-air missile]] (SAM).<ref>{{cite web|month=April | year=2003|url=http://www.meib.org/articles/0304_l2.htm|title=Hezbollah Reportedly Acquires SA-18 SAMs|publisher=Middle East Intelligence Bulletin}}</ref> One of the most effective weapons deployed by Hezbollah has been the [[C-802]] [[anti-ship missile]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5242566.stm Hezbollah missile threat assessed]</ref>

===Targeting policy===
Hezbollah has not been involved in any [[Istishhad|suicide bombing]] since Israel withdrew from Lebanon.<ref>[http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/html/final/eng/bu/hizbullah/pb/app1.htm Hezbollah Operations from the Israeli-Lebanese Border Since the Israeli Withdrawal from Lebanon]</ref><ref>[http://camera.org/index.asp?x_context=2&x_outlet=118&x_article=1148 Timeline of Hezbollah operations]</ref> After the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], Hezbollah condemned Al Qaeda for targeting the civilian [[World Trade Center]], but remained silent on the attack on the [[The Pentagon]], neither favoring nor opposing the act.<ref name=nybooks/><ref name="wp_inside_the_mind"> {{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/14/AR2006071401401.html|title=Inside the Mind of Hezbollah|first=Robin|last=Wright|publisher=The Washington Post|accessdate=2006-08-01}}</ref>
Hezbollah also denounced the [[Armed Islamic Group]] [[List of Algerian massacres of the 1990s|massacres]] in [[Algeria]], [[Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya|Al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya]] attacks on tourists in [[Egypt]],<ref>Hezbollah's condemnation of murder of civilians in Egypt and Algeria is described in Saad-Ghorayeb, p. 101.</ref> and the murder of [[Nick Berg]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3710057.stm|title=Muted Arab reaction to Berg beheading|first=Sebastian|last=Usher|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=2006-07-27}}</ref> In a 2006 interview with the ''Washington Post'', Nasrallah condemned violence against American civilians.<ref name="wp_inside_the_mind" />

Although Hezbollah has denounced certain attacks on Western civilians, some people accuse the organization of the bombing of an Argentine synagogue in 1994. Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman, Marcelo Martinez Burgos, and their "staff of some 45 people"<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=10589
|title=AMIA Probe Was Botched: Argentina
|author=Larry Luxner
|publisher=The Jewish Week
|date=2006-03-04
|accessdate=2007-02-05}}
</ref> alleged that Hezbollah and their contacts in Iran were responsible for the [[AMIA Bombing|1994 bombing]] of a Jewish cultural center in [[Argentina]], in which "[e]ighty-five people were killed and more than 200 others injured."<ref name="Argentine">[http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1159193523281 "Argentine prosecutors: Arrest former Iranian president."] ''Jerusalem Post'', [[2006-10-26]], "Prosecutor Alberto Nisman told a news conference that the decision to attack the center 'was undertaken in 1993 by the highest authorities of the then-government of Iran.' He said the actual attack was entrusted to the Lebanon-based group Hezbollah."</ref> In June 2002, shortly after the Israeli government launched [[Operation Defensive Shield]], Nasrallah gave a speech in which he defended and praised suicide bombings of Israeli targets by members of Palestinian groups for "creating a deterrence and equalizing fear." Nasrallah stated that "in occupied Palestine, there is no difference between a soldier and a civilian, for they are all invaders, occupiers and usurpers of the land."<ref name="nybooks"/>

==Ideology==
{{Mainarticle|Hezbollah Ideology}}
On February 16, 1985, Sheik Ibrahim al-Amin issued Hezbollah's manifesto. According to this manifesto (titled "An Open Letter: The Hizballah Program"), the three objectives of the organization are:<ref name="The Hizballah Program"/>
<blockquote>
* To expel Americans, the French and their allies (sic) definitely from [[Lebanon]], putting an end to any [[colonialist]] entity on our land.
* To submit the phalanges to a just power and bring them all to justice for the crimes they have perpetrated against Muslims and Christians.
* To permit all the sons of our people to determine their future and to choose in all the liberty the form of government they desire. We call upon all of them to pick the option of Islamic government which alone is capable of guaranteeing justice and liberty for all. Only an Islamic regime can stop any future tentative attempts of imperialistic infiltration onto our country.
</blockquote><!-- Note the above is not an exact quote: the Standbyus document uses (a), (b), (c) instead of bullets, a "the" is missing and punctuation is different. --> The 1985 manifesto makes it clear that Hezbollah intends to use armed force to achieve these goals and phrases its argument for this measure through the language of [[defensive jihad]].<ref>Qassem, (2005) page 39</ref>

===Hezbollah's Shi'a Islamic doctrine===
Hezbollah was formed in the early 1980s, largely with the aid of the [[Ayatollah]] [[Khomeini]]'s followers, in order to spread [[Islamic revolution]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/12/AR2006071201557.html|first=Robin|last=Wright|publisher=Washington Post|title=Options for U.S. Limited As Mideast Crises Spread|date=2006-07-13|page=A19}}</ref> It follows a distinct version of [[Islam]]ic [[Shi'a]] ideology (“[[Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists|Willayat Al-Faqih]]”) developed by [[Ayatollah]] [[Ruhollah Khomeini]], leader of the [[Islamic Revolution of Iran]].<ref name="HG20Ak02"/>

Translated excerpts from Hezbollah's original 1985 manifesto read:<blockquote><div>We are the sons of the umma (Muslim community) ...<br/>... We are an ummah linked to the Muslims of the whole world by the solid doctrinal and religious connection of Islam, whose message God wanted to be fulfilled by the Seal of the [[Prophets of Islam|Prophets]], i.e., Prophet [[Muhammad]]. Our behavior is dictated to us by [[Sharia|legal principles]] laid down by the light of an overall political conception defined by the leading jurist....As for our culture, it is based on the Holy [[Quran]], the [[Sunna]] and the legal rulings of the [[faqih]] who is our source of imitation...<ref name="The Hizballah Program"/></div></blockquote>

Although Hezbollah originally aimed to transform Lebanon into an [[Islamic republic]], this goal has been abandoned.<ref name="bbc-hi-me"/> Nasrallah has been quoted as saying, "We believe the requirement for an Islamic state is to have an overwhelming popular desire, and we're not talking about fifty percent plus one, but a large majority. And this is not available in Lebanon and probably never will be."<ref name="nybooks"/> Doubts, however, remain.<ref>US Department of State [http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/rpt/fto/2801.htm#hizballah Background Information on Foreign Terrorist Organizations] Accessed August 15, 2006</ref><ref name="CNN11-30-06">[http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/11/30/lebanon.siniora/index.html "Lebanese prime minister: There will be no coup."] ''CNN.com''. 30 November 2006. 30 November 2006</ref> Since that time, Hezbollah has transformed from a revolutionary movement to a socio-political movement of Lebanese Shi'a and has accepted the multi-cultural situation of Lebanon. This transformation is known as "Lebanonization".<ref>[http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/300/320/324/324.2/hizballah/warn2/index.html Staying the Course: the "Lebanonization" of Hizbollah - the integration of an Islamist movement into a pluralist political system]</ref> However, Hezbollah is not satisfied with the [[Confessionalism (politics)|multi-confessional]] quotas under the [[Taif Agreement|Ta'if Accord]], due to the fact that Shia's position in the state is lower than its proportion of population. Hezbollah believes in a one-person-one-vote system, but does not intend to force it onto the other minorities.<ref name="cobbanBR30_2">Cobban, Helena [http://bostonreview.net/BR30.2/cobban.html "Hizbullah’s New Face."] ''Boston Review''. Accessed February 2, 2007. Originally published in the April/May 2005 issue of ''Boston Review''.</ref>

===Attitudes, statements, and actions concerning Israel===
{{Mainarticle|Hezbollah foreign relations}}

[[Image:Hizbullahmartyrs.jpg|thumb|right|Billboard in Southern Lebanon depicting Hezbollah combatant "martyrs." Note the image of the Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock accompanied by an image of Hassan Nasrallah in the center of the billboard.]]
From the inception of Hezbollah to the present,<ref name=nybooks/><ref name="The Hizballah Program"/><ref name="UN document">United Nations Document A/54/723 S/2000/55, citing Al Hayyat, 30 October 1999
[http://domino.un.org/unispal.NSF/fd807e46661e3689852570d00069e918/50862df07adbd884852569ad0054a527!OpenDocument Letter dated 25 January 2000 from the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General] Accessed August 17, 2006</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.unb.ca/web/bruns/9900/issue14/intnews/israel.html|author=The Brunswickan Online|title=Hizbollah promises Israel a blood-filled new year, Iran calls for Israel's end}} (Student newspaper)</ref><ref>Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada [http://www.psepc.gc.ca/prg/ns/le/cle-en.asp#h20 Listed Entities - Hizballah] Accessed July 31, 2006</ref> the elimination of the State of Israel has been one of Hezbollah's primary goals. Some translations of Hezbollah's 1985 Arabic-language manifesto state that "our struggle will end only when this entity [Israel] is obliterated".<ref name="The Hizballah Program"/> However neither the original publication of the manifesto, nor those found on Hezbollah's website, include the statement.<ref name="The Hizballah Program"/> In an interview with the ''[[Washington Post]]'', Nasrallah said "I am against any reconciliation with Israel. I do not even recognize the presence of a state that is called 'Israel.'"<ref>{{cite news | url =http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/hzblhnsr.htm | title = Said Hassan Nasrallah Q&A: What Hezbollah Will Do ||publisher = [[The Washington Post]]|date = February 20, 2000 | accessdate = 2006-08-08 }}</ref> Throughout its history, Hezbollah has made statements and actions against the United States, in part because of the United States' support for Israel.<ref>Interview in July 1985, quoted in Martin Kramer, `The Oracle of Hizbullah: Sayiid Muhammad Husayn Fadlallah, Part II, in Spokesmen for the Despised: Fundamentalist Leaders of the Middle East, ed. R. Scott Appleby (Chicago University of Chicago Press, 1997), p.8</ref>

In 1993, during the [[Oslo peace process]], Nasrallah and several other top Hezbollah generals came out staunchly opposed to any final peace agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians to the point that they accused [[President of the Palestinian National Authority|Palestinian National Authority President]] [[Yasser Arafat]] of blasphemy and treachery to the Muslim people.<ref>[[Saad-Ghrayeb]], 2002, pp. 151-154</ref>

Israel's occupation of the [[Shebaa Farms]], along with the presence of [[Lebanese prisoners in Israel|Lebanese prisoners in Israeli jails]], is often cited as justification&mdash;and invoked as a pretext, according to many<ref>Joshua Mitnick. [http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0822/p10s01-wome.html Behind the dispute over Shebaa Farms], ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', August 22, 2006.</ref><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,,1771766,00.html Flashpoint farmland] , ''[[The Guardian]]'', May 10, 2006.</ref><ref>"Central to this issue is Hizballah’s claim, which was also espoused by Lebanon’s former pro-Syrian government, that the disputed Shebaa Farms are Lebanese rather than Syrian territories and are occupied by Israel. Therefore, Hizballah maintains that it is a legitimate resistance movement fighting for the liberation of Lebanese territory. Under this pretext, Hizballah, supported by some Lebanese parties, could argue that it is not a militia and thus it is outside the jurisdiction of Resolution 1559." Robert Rabil. [http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2395 Reinforcing Lebanon’s Sovereignty], [[Washington Institute for Near East Policy]], November 8, 2005.</ref>&mdash;for Hezbollah's continued hostilities against Israel even after Israel's verified withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000. Hezbollah's spokesperson Hassan Ezzedin, however, had this to say about an Israeli withdrawal from Shebaa Farms: <blockquote>"If they go from Shebaa, we won't stop fighting them. ... Our goal is to liberate the 1948 borders of Palestine, ... The Jews who survive this war of liberation can go back to Germany or wherever they came from. However, that the Jews who lived in Palestine before 1948 will be 'allowed to live as a minority and they will be cared for by the Muslim majority.'"<ref name="In the Party of God">{{cite news | url =http://www.jeffreygoldberg.net/articles/tny/a_reporter_at_large_in_the_par.php | title = IN THE PARTY OF GOD Are terrorists in Lebanon preparing for a larger war? by Jeffrey Goldberg | | publisher = [[The New Yorker]] | date = October 14, 2002 | accessdate = 2007-03-03 }}</ref> </blockquote>

On May 26, 2000, After the Israeli withdrawal from south Lebenon Hassan Nassrallah said: "I tell you: this "Israel" that owns nuclear weapons and the strongest air force in this region is more fragile than a spiderweb".<ref>
"The Best American Magazine Writing 2003"
By American Society of Magazine Editors,
Contributor David Remnick,
Published by HarperCollins, 2003,
ISBN 0060567759, 9780060567750,
464 pages,
Page 88
</ref><ref>{{cite web |
url = http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=7&x_issue=11&x_article=1158 |
title = "Hassan Nasrallah: In His Own Words" |
publisher =[[CAMERA]] |
date = 2006-07-26 |
language = English |
}}</ref>Arie W. Kruglanski, [[Moshe Ya'alon]], Bruce Hoffman, Efraim Inbar, and [[YNET]] interpret the "spider web" theory as the notion, articulated by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, that Israel's reverence for human life, the hedonistic nature of the Israeli society, and its self-indulgent Western values make it weak, soft, and vulnurable. Such a society, though technologically advanced, will crumble under continued war and bloodshed.<ref>
"Israel's National Security: Issues and Challenges Since the Yom Kippur War"
By Efraim Inbar,
Published by Routledge, 2008,
ISBN 0415449553, 9780415449557,
281 pages,
Page 229
</ref><ref>{{cite web |
url = http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3284065,00.html |
title = "Fact file: Hassan Nasrallah - Leader of Shiite terrorist organization, Hizbullah" |
publisher = [[YNET]] |
date = 2006-07-31 |
language = English |
}}</ref><ref>
Bruce Hoffman in
"Homeland Security and Terrorism: Readings and Interpretations"
By Russell D. Howard, James J. F. Forest, Joanne C. Moore,
Published by McGraw-Hill Professional, 2006,
ISBN 0071452826, 9780071452823,
400 pages,
Page 64 (Chapter 5 "The logic of suicide terrorism")
</ref><ref>
Arie W. Kruglanski in
"Tangled Roots: Social and Psychological Factors in the Genesis of Terrorism"
By Jeffrey Ivan Victoroff, NATO Public Diplomacy Division,
Contributor Jeffrey Ivan Victoroff,
Published by IOS Press, 2006,
ISBN 158603670X, 9781586036706,
477 pages,
Pages 68-69 (Chapter 4, "The psychology of terrorism: "Syndrom" versus "Tool" perspectives")
</ref>

According to [[Joseph Alagha]], Hezbollah's Deputy-General Na'im Qasim said during an interview on October 28, 2002 for the [[Daily Star]] that the struggle against Israel is a "core belief" of Hezbollah and "the central rationale of Hizbullah's existence".<ref>
"The Shifts in Hizbullah's Ideology: Religious Ideology, Political Ideology, and Political Program"
By Joseph Elie Alagha,
Published by Amsterdam University Press, 2006,
ISBN 9053569103, 9789053569108,
380 pages,
Page 53
</ref>

In a 2003 interview, [[Nasrallah]] answered questions concerning the renewed peace talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis, stating that he would not interfere in what he regarded as "...&nbsp;primarily a Palestinian matter." However, in his speeches to his followers, he provides rationalizations for suicide bombings.<ref name="hersh-New Yorker-030728fa">{{cite news|title=The Syrian Bet|last=Hersh |first=Seymour|authorlink=Seymour Hersh|publisher=[[The New Yorker]]|date=2003-07-18|url=http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/030728fa_fact|accessdate=2006-08-07}}</ref> Similarly, in 2004, when asked whether he was prepared to live with a two-state settlement between Israel and Palestine, [[Nasrallah]] said again that he would not sabotage what is finally a "...&nbsp;Palestinian matter."<ref name="nybooks"/> He also said that outside of Lebanon, Hezbollah would act only in a defensive manner towards Israeli forces, and that Hezbollah's missiles were acquired to deter attacks on Lebanon.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0303/16/sun.11.html | title = Interview With Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah | first = Sheila | last = Macvicar|publisher = [[CNN]]|date = March 16, 2003 | accessdate = 2006-08-01 }}</ref>

===Attitudes and actions concerning Jews and Judaism===
{{main|Ideology of Hezbollah#Attitudes, statements, and actions concerning Jews and Judaism}}
According to [[Joseph Alagha]], Hezbollah considers the [[Jews]] as [[People of the book]] and only regards the Jews living in Israel, either civilian or not, as "racist [[Zionism|Zionists]] [[Jews]]", who as Nasrallah puts it, should be killed. Alagha concluded that Hezbollah is not anti-Semitic in its overall orientation.<ref>
"The Shifts in Hizbullah's Ideology: Religious Ideology, Political Ideology, and Political Program"
By Joseph Elie Alagha,
Published by Amsterdam University Press, 2006,
ISBN 9053569103, 9789053569108,
380 pages,
Page 188
</ref>

However the group has been known to use [[anti-Semitic]] rhetoric and fallacious accusations that Jews are deliberately spreading AIDS.<ref>[http://www.ujc.org/page.html?ArticleID=35387 "JCPA Middle East Briefing: Hezbollah"]. ''[[United Jewish Communities]]''. 14 February 2008.</ref><ref>Sciolino, Elaine. [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/12/international/europe/12france.html "French Court Delays Decision on Hezbollah-Run TV Channel."] ''[[The New York Times]]'' 12 December 2004. 14 February 2008.</ref><ref>Carvajal, Doreen. [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/14/international/europe/14france.html "French Court Orders a Ban on hezbollah-Run TV Channel."] ''[[The New York Times]]''. 14 December 2004. 14 February 2008.</ref><ref>Block, Melissa. [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5658944 "'New Yorker' Writer Warns of Hezbollah's Radicalism."] ''[[National Public Radio]]''. 16 August 2006. 16 February 2008.</ref> The Hezbollah-owned and operated television station [[Al-Manar]] was criticized for airing "anti-Semitic propaganda" in the form of a television drama depicting a [[List_of_conspiracy_theories#Jewish_world_domination|Jewish world domination conspiracy]].<ref>Sciolino, Elaine. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F02E7DE1031F93AA35751C1A9629C8B63 " A New French Headache: When Is Hate on TV Illegal?"] ''[[The New York Times]]''. 9 December 2004. 16 February 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.adl.org/special_reports/protocols/protocols_recycled.asp "Anti-Semitic Series Airs on Arab Television."] ''[[Anti-Defamation League|ADL]].'' 9 January 2004. 16 February 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.wiesenthal.com/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=fwLYKnN8LzH&b=297065 "Urge President Chirac to Block Hezbollah's Antisemitic and Hate TV."] ''[[Simon Wiesenthal Center]]''. 21 May 2008.</ref> Hezbollah also used antisemitic educational materials designed for 5-year-old scouts.<ref>[http://www.wiesenthal.com/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=fwLYKnN8LzH&b=245494&ct=2943661 "UN Human Rights High Commissioner Admits to Wiesenthal Center Delegation ... 'Hezbollah Deliberately Targeted Israeli Civilians.'"] ''[[Simon Wiesenthal Center]]''. 19 September 2006. 22 May 2008.</ref><ref>Brown, Roy. [http://www.iheu.org/node/2390 "Hezbollah attacks IHEU speaker."] ''[[International Humanist and Ethical Union]]''. 25 September 2006. 22 May 2008.</ref>

==Organization==
[[Image:HezbollahOrgChart.svg|thumb|right|Organizational chart of Hezbollah, by Ahmad Nizar Hamzeh.]]
At the beginning many Hezbollah leaders have maintained that the movement was "not an organization, for its members carry no cards and bear no specific responsibilities,"<ref>''al-Nahar al-Arabi walduwali'', 10-16 June 1985; and ''La Revue du Liban'', 27 July-3 August 1985. quoted in Ranstorp, ''Hizb'allah in Lebanon,'' (1997), p.41</ref> and that the movement does not have "a clearly defined organizational structure."<ref>Ranstorp, ''Hizb'allah in Lebanon,'' (1997), p. 64</ref>

Nowadays, as Hezbollah scholar Magnus Ranstorp reports, Hezbollah does indeed have a formal governing structure, and in keeping with the principle of [[Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists]] (''velayat-e faqih''), it "concentrate[s] ... all authority and powers" in its religious leaders, whose decisions then "flow from the [[ulama]] down the entire community."

<Blockquote>The supreme decision-making bodies of the Hezbollah were divided between the Majlis al-Shura (Consultative Assembly) which was headed by 12 senior clerical members with responsibility for tactical decisions and supervision of overall Hizballah activity throughout Lebanon, and the Majlis al-Shura al-Karar (the Deciding Assembly), headed by Sheikh Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah and composed of eleven other clerics with responsibility for all strategic matters. Within the Majlis al-Shura, there existed seven specialized committees dealing with ideological, financial, military and political, judicial, informational and social affairs. In turn, the Majlis al-Shura and these seven committees were replicated in each of Hizballah's three main operational areas (the [[Beqaa]], [[Beirut]], and the South).<ref name = "Ranstorp-p45">Ranstorp, ''Hizb'allah in Lebanon,'' (1997), p.45</ref></blockquote>

Since the [[Supreme Leader of Iran]] is the ultimate clerical authority, Hezbollah's leaders have appealed to him "for guidance and directives in cases when Hezbollah's collective leadership [was] too divided over issues and fail[ed] to reach a consensus."<ref name = "Ranstorp-p45"/> After the death of Iran's first Supreme Leader, Khomeini, Hezbollah's governing bodies developed a more "independent role" and appealed to Iran less often.<ref name = "Ranstorp-p45"/>

== Political activities ==
{{Politics of Lebanon}}
{{Mainarticle|Hezbollah political activities}}
[[Image:Lebanon Jul06.png|thumb|left|200px|Lebanon’s majority Shi’a areas, where Hezbollah is most prominent.]]
[[Image:Photo of Dec 10 2006 pro-Hezbollah rally Beirut.jpg|thumb|left|Dec 10 2006 pro-Hezbollah rally in Beirut]]
Hezbollah alongside with [[Amal Movement|Amal]] is one of two major political parties in Lebanon that represent the [[Shi'a Islam|Shiite]] [[Demographics of Lebanon#Muslims|Muslims]]. It holds 14 of the 128 seats in [[Parliament of Lebanon|Lebanon's Parliament]] and is a member of the [[Resistance and Development Bloc]]. According to Daniel L. Byman, it's "the most powerful single political movement in Lebanon." <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfr.org/publication/16378/powerful_movement.html?breadcrumb=%2F|title=Hezbollah: Most Powerful Political Movement in Lebanon |first=|last=|publisher=[[Council on Foreign Relations]]|date=2008-05-29|accessdate=2006-09-15}}</ref>
Hezbollah, along with the [[Amal Movement]], represents most of Lebanese Shi'a.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/dispatches/lebanon.syria/seelye2.html|title=Lebanon's religious mix|first=Kate|last=Seelye|publisher=[[PBS]] [[PBS Frontline World|Frontline World]]|date=2005-04-01|accessdate=2006-07-28}}</ref> However, unlike Amal, Hezbollah has not disarmed. Hezbollah participates in the [[Parliament of Lebanon]]. In the [[Lebanese general election, 2005|general election of 2005]], it won 10.9% of parliamentary seats. The [[Resistance and Development Bloc]], of which Hezbollah is a member, won all 23 seats in [[Southern Lebanon]], and in total, 35 seats, or 27.3% of parliamentary seats nationwide.<ref>Lebanon: Angus Reid Global Monitor</ref> When municipal elections were held in the first half of 2004, Hezbollah won control of 21% of the municipalities.<ref name="cobbanBR30_2"/>

Hezbollah has been one the main parties of [[March 8 Alliance]] since polarization of political atmosphere of Lebanon in March 2005. Although Hezbollah had joined the new government in 2005, it remained staunchly opposed to the [[March 14 Alliance]].<ref>[http://www.mideastmonitor.org/issues/0604/0604_1.htm The Counter-revolution of the Cedars]</ref> In November 2006, Hezbollah, the [[Free Patriotic Movement]] (FPM), and the [[Amal Movement]] jointly demanded the establishment of a "[[national unity government]]",<ref>[http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/0/A96138992550D16AC2257219001A2043?OpenDocument "Nasrallah Warns of 'Street Demonstrations' if National Unity Government is not Formed"]</ref><ref>[http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/10/15/10075244.html "Aoun calls for national unity government"]</ref> in which they demanded early elections and one third of the Cabinet seats; effectively, veto power.<ref name="siniora_resistance">San Francisco Chronicle (December 15, 2006). [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/12/15/MNGS4MVTCT1.DTL&type=politics "In Lebanon, Saniora stiffens his resistance"]. Retrieved December 18, 2006.</ref><ref>Reuters (December 18, 2006). [http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-12-18T164109Z_01_L1885284_RTRUKOC_0_US-LEBANON-GOVERNMENT-OPPOSITION.xml&WTmodLoc=IntNewsHome_C2_worldNews-9 "Lebanon opposition demands early elections"]. Retrieved December 18, 2006.</ref> When negotiations with the ruling coalition failed, five Cabinet Ministers from Hezbollah and [[Amal Movement|Amal]] resigned their positions. On December 1, 2006, these groups began the [[2006–2008 Lebanese political protests]], an ongoing series of protests and [[sit-in]]s in opposition to the government of Prime Minister [[Fouad Siniora]].<ref>[http://www.moqawama.org/english/_amenspeeches.php?filename=20061130180624048 The full text of Nasrallah`s speech on the invitation to participate in an open sit-in in Beirut]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/6200804.stm|title=Political ferment in Lebanon|first=Kim|last=Ghattas|publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=2006-12-01|accessdate=2008-08-15}}</ref> Finally, on May 7, 2008 [[Lebanon]]'s [[2006–2008 Lebanese political protests|17-month long political crisis]] spiraled out of control. [[2008 unrest in Lebanon|The fighting]] was sparked by a government move to shut down Hezbollah's telecommunication network and remove [[Beirut Airport]]'s security chief over alleged ties to Hezbollah. Hezbollah leader [[Hassan Nasrallah]] said the government's decision to declare the group's military telecommunications network illegal was a "declaration of war" on the organization, and demanded that the government revoke it.<ref>{{citeweb|title= Hezbollah takes over west Beirut |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7391600.stm |publisher=''[[BBC news]]''|accessdate=2008-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{citeweb|title= Lebanon tensions rise in clash with Hezbollah |url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/981937.html |publisher=''[[Haaretz]]''|accessdate=2008-05-10}}</ref> Hezbollah-led opposition fighters seized control of several [[West Beirut]] neighborhoods from [[Future Movement]] militiamen loyal to the American-backed government, in street battles that left 11 dead and 30 wounded. The opposition-seized areas were then handed over to the [[Lebanese Army]].<ref>{{citeweb|title= Lebanese army moves into W. Beirut after Hezbollah takeover |url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/981696.html |publisher=''[[Haaretz]]''|accessdate=2008-05-10}}</ref> The army also pledged to resolve the dispute and has reversed the decisions of the government by letting Hezbollah preserve its telecoms network and re-instating the airport's security chief.<ref>{{citeweb|title= Hezbollah Pledges Pullout From Beirut as Army Makes Concession|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aqf3zxx_..5I&refer=home|publisher=''Bloomberg''|accessdate=2008-10-05}}</ref><ref>{{citeweb|title=Hezbollah to Withdraw Gunmen in Lebanon|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/11/world/middleeast/11lebanon.html?hp|publisher=''New York Times''|accessdate=2008-10-05}}</ref> At the end, rival Lebanese leaders reached consensus over [[Doha Agreement]] on May 21 2008, to end the 18-month political feud that exploded into fighting and nearly drove the country to a new civil war.<ref name="france24">{{citeweb|title=Lebanese leaders 'expect to elect a president' in 24 hours|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20080521-lebanon-hezbollah-doha-election-presidential&navi=MONDE|publisher=''[[France 24]]''|accessdate=2008-05-31}}</ref> On the basis of this agreement, Hezbollah was granted veto power in Lebanon's parliament. At the end of the conflicts, [[Lebanese government of July 2008|National unity government]] was formed by [[Fouad Siniora]] on July 11, 2008 and Hezbollah has one minister and controls eleven of thirty seats in the cabinet.<ref>[http://www.tayyar.org/Tayyar/UnityGovernmentEN.htm National unity government]</ref><ref name="CFR"/>

== Military activities ==
{{Mainarticle|Hezbollah military activities}}
Hezbollah has a military branch known as ''Al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya'' ("The Islamic Resistance") and is the possible sponsor of a number of lesser-known militant groups, some of which may be little more than fronts for Hezbollah itself, including the Organization of the Oppressed, the Revolutionary Justice Organization, the Organization of Right Against Wrong, and Followers of the Prophet Muhammad.<ref name='USDbackground2801'>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/rpt/fto/2801.htm
|title=Background Information on Foreign Terrorist Organizations
|author=US Department of State
|date=1999-10-08
|accessdate=2007-02-05}}
</ref><ref name="canadag20030213-137">
{{cite web
|url=http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partII/2003/20030213-x/html/sor53-e.html
|author=Canada Gazette|title=Canada Gazette Vol. 137, no 1
|date=2003-02-12
|accessdate=2006-07-25}}
</ref>

[[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559]] called for the disarmament of militia<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=S/RES/1559%20(2004)&Lang=E&Area=UNDOC
|title=Resolution 1559 (2004)
|author=[[United Nations Security Council]]
|date=2004-09-02
|accessdate=2007-05-01
|quote=3. Calls for the disbanding and disarmament of all Lebanese and non-
Lebanese militias
}}</ref> with the [[Taif agreement]] at the end of the [[Lebanese civil war]]. Hezbollah denounced, and protested against, the resolution.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/html/final/eng/eng_n/hez_e0905.htm
|title=Hezbollah has no intention to disarm
|author=Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Center for Special Studies (Israeli)
|date=2005-09-07
|accessdate=2007-05-01
}}</ref> The 2006 military conflict with Israel has increased the controversy. Failure to disarm remains a violation of the resolution and agreement according to the Israeli Government.<ref>[http://www.adl.org/main_terrorism/hezbollah_overview.htm "Hezbollah: Hezbollah and the Recent Conflict."] ''[[Anti-Defamation League|ADL]]''. 29 September 2006. 26 June 2007.</ref> Since then both Israel and Hezbollah have asserted that the organization has gained in military strength<ref name="met"/>. Most of the Shia consider Hezbollah's weaponry a necessary and justified element of resistance, while less than half of the other religious communities support the idea that Hezbollah should keep its weapons after the [[2006 Lebanon war]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.mideastmonitor.org/issues/0609/0609_6.htm
|title=Briefing: Lebanese Public Opinion
|author=
|date=September-October 2006
|accessdate=2007-10-08
}}</ref> The Lebanese cabinet, under president [[Michel Suleiman]] and Prime Minister [[Fouad Siniora]], guidelines state that Hezbollah enjoys the right to "liberate occupied lands."<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1011868.html Ha'aretz] 14 August 2008, ''UN: We've cleared half the cluster bombs Israel dropped on Lebanon'' By Shlomo Shamir</ref>

=== Suicide attacks and kidnappings ===
{{see also|Lebanon hostage crisis}}
Hezbollah has takes responsibility for a number of attacks and kidnappings.<ref name="c">[http://www.cfr.org/publication/9155/#6 Hezbollah] CFR. org Staff, the US [[Council on Foreign Relations]], [[2006-07-17]]</ref><ref name="a">[http://www.aijac.org.au/resources/hezb_00-06.html Hezbollah Attacks Since May 2000] Mitchell Bard, the Jewish [[AIJAC]], [[2006-07-24]]</ref><ref name="cd">[http://www.cdi.org/terrorism/hezbollah.cfm Terrorism - In the Spotlight: Hezbollah (Party of God)] Michael Donovan, [[Center for Defense Information]] cdi.org, [[2002-02-25]]</ref> Between 1982 and 1986, in the midst of the [[Lebanese Civil War]], 36 suicide attacks were made in Lebanon against American, French, Lebanese, and Israeli targets by 41 people of different religions and political ideologies, killing 659 people.<ref>[http://amconmag.com/2005_07_18/article.html "... eight were Islamic fundamentalists. Twenty-seven were Communists and Socialists. Three were Christians]. The American Conservative, July 18, 2005. Verified 22nd June 2008.</ref><ref name="pape" /> Hezbollah has been accused of some or all of these attacks, but responsibility is disputed, and Hezbollah has denied being involved in any of them.<ref>Sites, Kevin (Scripps Howard News Services). "[http://www.redding.com/redd/nw_columnists/article/0,2232,REDD_17528_4389698,00.html Hezbollah denies terrorist ties, increases role in government]" 2006-01-15</ref><ref>"[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/target/etc/cron.html Frontline: Target America: Terrorist attacks on Americans, 1979-1988]", PBS News, 2001. Accessed 4 February 2007</ref><ref name="leb1">[http://www.lebanon.com/news/local/2003/3/20.htm Hezbollah again denies involvement in deadly Buenos Aires bombing BEIRUT, March 19 (AFP)]</ref> These attacks included the [[April 1983 U.S. Embassy bombing]],<ref name="Ini">[http://camera.org/index.asp?x_context=2&x_outlet=118&x_article=1148 "Timeline of Hezbollah Violence."] ''[[Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America|CAMERA: Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America]]''. 17 July 2006. 18 November 2006. Later reprinted in ''On Campus'' magazine's Fall 2006 issue and attributed the article to author Gilead Ini.</ref> the [[1983 Beirut barracks bombing]],<ref name="c" /><ref name="cd" /><ref name="Ini" /> and a spate of attacks on [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] troops and [[South Lebanon Army|SLA]] militiamen in southern Lebanon.<ref name="pape" /> The period also saw the hijacking of [[TWA Flight 847]] in 1985,<ref name="c" /> and the [[Lebanon hostage crisis]] from 1982 to 1992.<ref name="cd" /> More recently, Hezbollah has been accused of the January 15, 2008, bombing of a U.S. Embassy vehicle in Beirut.{{Fact|date=June 2008}}
<!-- TODO: Need to cover the controvery around Amal vs. Islamic Jihad vs. Hezbollah as far as responsibility for these attacks. -->

Outside of Lebanon, Hezbollah has been accused of the [[1992 Israeli Embassy attack in Buenos Aires]],<ref name="c" /><ref name="cd" /> and the [[1994 AMIA bombing]] of a Jewish cultural centre, both in Argentina.<ref name="c" /> According to Nasrallah, however, Hezbollah refused any participation in operations outside Lebanese and Israeli lands before 2008.<ref>[http://english.hizbollah.tv/essaydetails.php?eid=2366&cid=214 H.E. Sayyed Nasrallah Speech in Full: History will mark martyr Moghnieh blood as the start of the fall of "Israel"]</ref>



===Conflict with the United States===

Asharq Alawsat reported on August 18, 2008, that Iran denied that Hizbullah operatives were involved in attacks against U.S. and Iraqi forces in four Iraqi provinces. In June 2006, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield disclosed that Hizbullah cadres had attacked U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq. Hizbullah units claimed responsibility for operations against coalition forces and Iraqi security personnel as early as the latter part of 2005.<ref> {{cite news|publisher=Guardian|url=http://www.asharqalawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=1&id=13772|title=Iran's Revolutionary Guard to Train Iraqi Shiite Youths|date=2008-08-18|accessdate=2008-08-18}}</ref>

In June 2006, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield disclosed that Hizbullah cadres had attacked U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq.<ref> {{cite news|publisher=Guardian|url=http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2716|title=“Who Was Imad Mughniyeh?”|date=2008-02-14|accessdate=2008-02-14}}</ref>

In his testimony before the Armed Services Committees of the Congress on April 8, 2008, General David Petraeus, the commander of the multinational forces in Iraq, reported that the Iranian Qods Force, with the assistance of Lebanese Hizbullah’s Department 2800, was training, arming and guiding the “Special Groups” in Iraq.<ref> {{cite news|url=http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&lang=arabic&id=18280|title=“Multi-National Force - Iraq”|}}</ref>

=== Armed strength ===
[[Image:Hezbollah territory.JPG|thumb|250px|right|A sign erected after the 2006 Israeli-Lebanon war in [[South Lebanon]] which says ''the principal precept is protecting the resistance'']]
{{see also|Hezbollah armed strength}}
Hezbollah has not revealed its armed strength. It has been estimated by Mustafa Alani, security director at the Dubai-based Gulf Research Centre, that Hezbollah's military force is made up of about 1,000 full-time Hezbollah members, along with a further 6,000-10,000 volunteers.<ref name="Hezbollah force">[http://www.iiss.org/whats-new/iiss-in-the-press/press-coverage-2006/july-2006/hezbollah-a-force-to-be-reckoned-with July 18th - - Agence France Presse - Analysis: Hezbollah a force to be reckoned with]</ref>

Hezbollah possesses the [[Katyusha|Katyusha-122]] rocket, which has a range of 29&nbsp;km (18&nbsp;mi) and carries a 15-kg (33-lb) warhead. Hezbollah also possesses about 100 long-range missiles. They include the Iranian-made [[Fajr-3]] and [[Fajr-5]], the latter with a range of {{km to mi|75|abbr=yes}}, enabling it to strike the Israeli port of [[Haifa]], and the [[Zelzal-1]], with an estimated {{km to mi|150|abbr=yes}} range, which can reach [[Tel Aviv]]. Fajr-3 missiles have a range of {{km to mi|40|abbr=yes}} and a 45-kg (99-lb) warhead, and Fajr-5 missiles, which extend to {{km to mi|72|abbr=yes}}, also hold 45-kg (99-lb) warheads.<ref name="Hezbollah force"/>

According to various reports, Hezbollah is armed with [[anti-tank guided missile]]s, namely, the Russian-made [[AT-3 Sagger]], [[AT-4 Spigot]], [[AT-5 Spandrel]], [[Metis-M|AT-13 Saxhorn-2 'Metis-M']], [[9M133 Kornet|АТ-14 Spriggan 'Kornet']]; [[Iran]]ian-made [[RAAD (missile)|Ra'ad]] (version of [[AT-3 Sagger]]), Towsan (version of [[AT-5 Spandrel]]), [[Toophan]] (version of [[BGM-71 TOW]]); and European-made [[MILAN]] missiles. These weapons have been used against [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] soldiers, causing many of the deaths during the [[2006 Lebanon War]].<ref> {{cite web|date=2007-03-18|url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2275334|title=Missiles neutralizing Israeli tanks|publisher=Associated Press}}</ref> A small number of Saeghe-2s (Iranian-made version of [[M47 Dragon]]) were also used in the war.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.jinsa.org/articles/articles.html/function/view/categoryid/158/documentid/3504/history/3,2360,655,158,3504 | title = Hezbollah, Already a Capable Military Force, Makes Full Use of Civilian Shields and Media Manipulation | first = Paul | last = Weitz | publisher = JINSA Online | date = 2006-08-12 | accessdate=2008-01-09}}</ref>

For air defense, Hezbollah has anti-aircraft weapons that include the [[ZU-23]] artillery and the man-portable, shoulder-fired [[Strela 2|SA-7]] and [[SA-18]] [[surface-to-air missile]] (SAM).<ref>{{cite web|month=April | year=2003|url=http://www.meib.org/articles/0304_l2.htm|title=Hezbollah Reportedly Acquires SA-18 SAMs|publisher=Middle East Intelligence Bulletin}}</ref> One of the most effective weapons deployed by Hezbollah has been the [[C-802]] [[anti-ship missile]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5242566.stm Hezbollah missile threat assessed]</ref>

===Targeting policy===
Hezbollah has not been involved in any [[Istishhad|suicide bombing]] since Israel withdrew from Lebanon.<ref>[http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/html/final/eng/bu/hizbullah/pb/app1.htm Hezbollah Operations from the Israeli-Lebanese Border Since the Israeli Withdrawal from Lebanon]</ref><ref>[http://camera.org/index.asp?x_context=2&x_outlet=118&x_article=1148 Timeline of Hezbollah operations]</ref> After the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], Hezbollah condemned Al Qaeda for targeting the civilian [[World Trade Center]], but remained silent on the attack on the [[The Pentagon]], neither favoring nor opposing the act.<ref name=nybooks/><ref name="wp_inside_the_mind"> {{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/14/AR2006071401401.html|title=Inside the Mind of Hezbollah|first=Robin|last=Wright|publisher=The Washington Post|accessdate=2006-08-01}}</ref>
Hezbollah also denounced the [[Armed Islamic Group]] [[List of Algerian massacres of the 1990s|massacres]] in [[Algeria]], [[Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya|Al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya]] attacks on tourists in [[Egypt]],<ref>Hezbollah's condemnation of murder of civilians in Egypt and Algeria is described in Saad-Ghorayeb, p. 101.</ref> and the murder of [[Nick Berg]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3710057.stm|title=Muted Arab reaction to Berg beheading|first=Sebastian|last=Usher|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=2006-07-27}}</ref> In a 2006 interview with the ''Washington Post'', Nasrallah condemned violence against American civilians.<ref name="wp_inside_the_mind" />

Although Hezbollah has denounced certain attacks on Western civilians, some people accuse the organization of the bombing of an Argentine synagogue in 1994. Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman, Marcelo Martinez Burgos, and their "staff of some 45 people"<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=10589
|title=AMIA Probe Was Botched: Argentina
|author=Larry Luxner
|publisher=The Jewish Week
|date=2006-03-04
|accessdate=2007-02-05}}
</ref> alleged that Hezbollah and their contacts in Iran were responsible for the [[AMIA Bombing|1994 bombing]] of a Jewish cultural center in [[Argentina]], in which "[e]ighty-five people were killed and more than 200 others injured."<ref name="Argentine">[http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1159193523281 "Argentine prosecutors: Arrest former Iranian president."] ''Jerusalem Post'', [[2006-10-26]], "Prosecutor Alberto Nisman told a news conference that the decision to attack the center 'was undertaken in 1993 by the highest authorities of the then-government of Iran.' He said the actual attack was entrusted to the Lebanon-based group Hezbollah."</ref> In June 2002, shortly after the Israeli government launched [[Operation Defensive Shield]], Nasrallah gave a speech in which he defended and praised suicide bombings of Israeli targets by members of Palestinian groups for "creating a deterrence and equalizing fear." Nasrallah stated that "in occupied Palestine, there is no difference between a soldier and a civilian, for they are all invaders, occupiers and usurpers of the land."<ref name="nybooks"/>

==Attacks on Hezbollah leaders==
[[Image:Imad Mugniyeh.JPG|thumb|right|250px|[[Imad Mughnieh]] the commander of ''Al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya'' ("The Islamic Resistance") who was assassinated on February 12, 2008]]
Hezbollah has also been the target of bomb attacks and kidnappings. These include:

* In the [[1985 Beirut car bombing]], Hezbollah leader [[Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah]] was targeted, but the assassination attempt failed. It has been alleged<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,965712,00.html Did A Dead Man Tell No Tales? - Printout - TIME<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> that the CIA was responsible for this attack.

* On July 28, 1989, Israeli commandos kidnapped Sheikh Abdul Karim Obeid, the leader of Hezbollah.<ref>[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/UN/unres638.html Abduction of Sheikh Obeid, Security Council Resolution 638<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> This action led to the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 638, which condemned all hostage takings by all sides.

* In 1992, Israeli helicopters attacked a motorcade in southern Lebanon, killing the Hezbollah leader [[Abbas al-Musawi]], his wife, son, and four others.<ref name="Timeline: Lebanon"/>

* On February 12, 2008, [[Imad Mughnieh]] was killed by a car bomb in [[Damascus]], [[Syria]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSL1350754620080213|title=Hezbollah's most wanted commander killed in Syria bomb|publisher=Reuters|date=February 13, 2008|accessdate=2008-05-12}}</ref>

==Media operations==
Hezbollah operates a satellite television station, ''[[Al-Manar (TV station)|Al-Manar]]'' TV ("the Lighthouse") and a radio station ''[[al-Nour]]'' ("the Light").<ref name="CNN" /> Al-Manar broadcasts from [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]].<ref name="CNN">{{
cite web
| year=2006
| publisher=cnn.com
| author=Elise Labott and Henry Schuster
| url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/03/23/hezbollah.tv/index.html
| title=Lebanese media outlets' assets blocked
}}</ref> The station was launched by Hezbollah in 1991<ref name="natrev812">{{
cite news
| url =http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/jorisch200412220812.asp
| title = Terrorist Television Hezbollah has a worldwide reach
| publisher = [[National Review Online]]
| date = December 22, 2004
| accessdate = 2007-03-31 }}</ref> with the help of [[Iran]]ian funds.<ref name="meforum583">{{
cite web
|url=http://www.meforum.org/article/583
|title=Al-Manar: Hizbullah TV, 24/7
|author=Avi Jorisch
|publisher=Middle East Quarterly
|date=Winter 2004
|accessdate=2006-09-03}}</ref> Al-Manar, self-proclaimed "Station of the Resistance" (qanat al-muqawama), is a key player in what Hezbollah calls its "[[psychological warfare]] against the [[Zionism|Zionist enemy]]"<ref name="meforum583"/><ref>{{
cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20030410115717/http://web.manartv.org/html/about.html
|title=Al-Manar Television
|accessdate=2007-03-27}}</ref> and an integral part of Hezbollah's plan to spread its message to the entire [[Arab world]].<ref name="meforum583"/>

Hezbollah's television station [[Al-Manar]] airs programming designed to inspire suicide attacks in [[Gaza]], the [[West Bank]], and [[Iraq]].<ref name="In the Party of God"/><ref>{{cite news | url =http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/jorisch200412220812.asp | title = Terrorist Television
Hezbollah has a worldwide reach | | publisher = [[National Review Online]]|date = December 22, 2004 | accessdate = 2006-08-22 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url =http://www.meib.org/articles/0304_l1.htm | title = Al-Manar and the War in Iraq | | publisher = Middle East Intelligence Bulliten | month = April | year = 2003 | accessdate = 2006-08-24 }}</ref> Al-Manar's transmission in France is prohibited due to promotion of [[Holocaust denial]], a criminal offense in France.<ref>[http://www.conseil-etat.fr/ce/jurispd/index_ac_ld0460.shtml Full Text of the decision (in French)]</ref><ref>[http://www.conseil-etat.fr/ce/actual/index_ac_lc0418.shtml Press Release(in French)]</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4093579.stm France pulls plug on Arab network]</ref> The United States lists [[Al-Manar]] television network as a terrorist organization.<ref>Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State (December 14, 2004). [http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=December&x=20041217125030sjhtrop0.2467462 "United States Adds Al-Manar TV Network to Terrorism List"]. Retrieved February 28, 2007.</ref>

Materials aimed at instilling principles of nationalism and Islam in children are an aspect of Hezbollah's media operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/7340,L-3297896,00.html|title=Hizbullah presents|author=Roee Nahmias|publisher=ynetnews.com|date=31 August 2006|accessdate=2007-02-25}}</ref> The Hezbollah Central Internet Bureau released a video game in 2003 entitled ''[[Special Force]]'', in which players conduct war on Israeli invaders, wherein the winner becomes a national hero on Earth and a martyr in Heaven.<ref>[http://switchr.catchup.net/cunet/gm.asp?ai=214&ar=596wmv&ak=null Video Game at]</ref>

==Social services==
Hezbollah also organizes extensive social development programs, running hospitals, news services, and educational facilities. Social services have a central role in the party's programs. Most experts believe that Hezbollah's social and health programs are worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually.<ref name="irinnews52494"/>

Hezbollah organizes an extensive social development program and runs hospitals, news services, and educational facilities.<ref name="irinnews52494"/> Some of its established institutions are: Emdad committee for Islamic Charity,<ref>[http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/300/320/324/324.2/hizballah/emdad/index.html Emdad committee for Islamic Charity]</ref> Hezbollah Central Press Office, Al Jarha Association,<ref>[http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/300/320/324/324.2/hizballah/jarha/index.html Al Jarha Association]</ref> and [[Jihad Al Binna|Jihad Al Binaa Developmental Association]].<ref>[http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/300/320/324/324.2/hizballah/jihad-el-binna/index.html Jehad Al Benaa Developmental Association]</ref> Jihad Al Binna's Reconstruction Campaign is responsible for numerous economic and infrastructure development projects in Lebanon.<ref name="sachs">Sachs, Susan. The [[New York Times]]. [http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/hlphzbl.htm ''Helping Hand of Hezbollah Emerging in South Lebanon.''] March 30, 2000.</ref><ref>JoMarie Fecci, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs: [http://www.washington-report.org/backissues/0199/9901020.html ''Despite End of Lebanon’s Long Civil War, Low-Level Conflict Continues Around Israeli-Occupied Zone']</ref> Hezbollah has set up a Martyr's Institute (Al-Shahid Social Association), which guarantees to provide living and education expenses for the families of fighters who die in battle.<ref name="WPBestGuerrilla">{{cite web| author= Edward Cody and Molly Moore| date=2006-08-14| url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/13/AR2006081300719.html?nav=rss_world|title=The Best Guerrilla Force in the World| publisher=The Washington Post}}</ref>
In March 2006, an IRIN news report of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs noted:
"Hezbollah not only has armed and political wings - it also boasts an extensive social development program. Hezbollah currently operates at least four hospitals, twelve clinics, twelve schools and two agricultural centres that provide farmers with technical assistance and training. It also has an environmental department and an extensive social assistance program. Medical care is also cheaper than in most of the country's private hospitals and free for Hezbollah members".<ref name="irinnews52494"/>

According to CNN: "Hezbollah did everything that a government should do, from collecting the garbage to running hospitals and repairing schools."<ref name="cnn20060724-1">{{cite news|author=CNN|date=2006-07-25|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/24/schuster.hezbollah/index.html|title=Hezbollah's secret weapon|accessdate=2006-07-25}}</ref>
In July 2006, during the war with Israel, when there was no running water in [[Beirut]], Hezbollah was arranging supplies around the city. "People here [in South Beirut] see Hezbollah as a political movement and a social service provider as much as it is a militia, in this traditionally poor and dispossessed Shiite community."<ref name="cnn20060724-1"/> Also, after the war it competed with the Lebanese government to reconstruct destroyed areas. According to analysts like American University Professor Judith Swain Harik, [[Jihad Al Binna|Jihad al-Binaa]] has won the initial battle of hearts and minds, in large part because they are the most experienced in Lebanon in the field of reconstruction.<ref>{{cite web | author=Jackson Allers | date=September 12, 2006 | url=http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=34687 | title=Hezbollah Ahead of Govt Again | work=ipsnews.net | accessdate=2007-05-19}}</ref>

==Funding==
{{Mainarticle|Funding of Hezbollah}}
{{see also|Islamic Resistance Support Organization}}
Hezbollah's financial support is a matter of controversy. Critics argue that it is, or has been, massively supported with tens of millions of dollars annually from the Islamic Republic of Iran.<ref name="In the Party of God" /> Hezbollah maintains that the main source of its income comes from donations by Muslims.<ref name="wpa12336">Washington Post, December 20, 2004 [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A12336-2004Dec19?language=printer Lebanese Wary of a Rising Hezbollah] Accessed August 8, 2006</ref>

Lebanese Shi’ites often make ''[[zakat]]'' contributions directly after prayers and an additional donation in a Hezbollah donation box.
Hezbollah also receives financial and political assistance, as well as weapons and training, from the [[Islamic Republic of Iran]].<ref name="irinnews52494">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=52494&SelectRegion=Middle_East
|title=LEBANON: The many hands and faces of Hezbollah
|author=UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
|date=2006-03-29
|accessdate=2006-08-17}}
</ref><ref name="Haaretz 746631" /><ref name="WPBestGuerrilla" /> The US estimates that Iran has been giving Hezbollah about US$60-100 million per year in financial assistance.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.meib.org/articles/0201_l2.htm
|title=Hezbollah's Global Finance Network: The Triple Frontier
|accessdate=2006-08-07
|month=January | year=2002}}
</ref>

Hezbollah has relied extensively on funding from the Shi'ite Lebanese Diaspora in West Africa, the United States and, most importantly, the [[Triple Frontier]], or tri-border area, along the junction of [[Paraguay]], [[Argentina]], and [[Brazil]].<ref>[http://www.meib.org/articles/0201_l2.htm Hezbollah's Global Finance Network: The Triple Frontier]</ref> U.S. law enforcement officials charged that smugglers of illegal cigarettes in the United States were funneling millions of dollars to Hezbollah.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23384-2004Jun7.html Cigarette Smuggling Linked to Terrorism], [[The Washington Post]]</ref>

==Foreign relations==
{{Mainarticle|Hezbollah foreign relations}}
Hezbollah has close relations with Iran.<ref>Halliday, Fred. [http://www.opendemocracy.net/globalization/hizbollah_3757.jsp "A Lebanese fragment: two days with Hizbollah."] ''openDemocracy''. 20 July 2006. 17 February 2007.</ref> It also has ties with the leadership in Syria, specifically with President [[Hafez al-Assad]] (until his death in 2000) and his son and successor [[Bashar al-Assad]].<ref>Gambill, Gary. [http://www.mideastmonitor.org/gambill/050304.htm "Syria and Hezbollah: A Loveless Alliance."] ''Mideast Monitor''. 4 March 2005. 17 February 2007. Originally published in ''[[The National Post]]'' (Toronto).</ref> Although Hezbollah and [[Hamas]] are not organizationally linked, Hezbollah provides military training as well as financial and moral support to the [[Sunni]] [[Palestinian]] group.<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33566.pdf|title=Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah: The Current Conflict
|publisher=CRS Report for Congress
|date=July 21, 2006
|accessdaymonth = 8 September | accessyear=2006|format=PDF}}</ref> Furthermore, Hezbollah is a strong supporter of the ongoing Al-Aqsa Intifada.<ref name=nybooks/>
Whether there has been cooperation or any relationship between Hezbollah and [[al-Qaeda]] has been questioned.<ref name="Tehran">[http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2002/issue3/jv6n3a5.html Tehran, Washington, And Terror: No Agreement To Differ] by A. W. Samii, ''[[Middle East Review of International Affairs]]'', Volume 6, No. 3, September 2002 - citing Al-Majallah, March 24-March 30, 2002 and
Al-Watan March 19, 2002</ref> Hezbollah's leaders deny links to al-Qaeda, present or past.<ref name="Tehran" /><ref>Stinson, Jeffrey. [http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-07-28-lebanon-hezbollah_x.htm "Minister: Hezbollah doesn't need al-Qaeda's help fighting Israel in Lebanon."] ''USATODAY.com''. 28 July 2006. 17 February 2006.</ref> Also, some [[al-Qaeda]] leaders, like [[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5040974.stm|author=[[BBC News]]|title='Zarqawi tape' urges Sunni unrest|date=2006-06-02|accessdate=2006-07-26}}</ref> and [[Wahhabi]] clerics, consider Hezbollah to be [[apostate]].<ref>Jerusalem Post, August 5, 2006 [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1154525810323 Saudi religious leader blasts Hizbullah] Accessed August 6, 2006</ref><ref>Nimir, Suleiman. [http://195.224.230.11/english/saudi/?id=17190 "Middle East Online."] 4 August 2006. 17 February 2007.</ref>
But United States intelligence officials [[Speculation|speculate]] that there has been contact between Hezbollah and low-level al-Qaeda figures who fled [[Afghanistan]] for Lebanon.<ref name="Tehran" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/07/26/attack/main516585.shtml|author=CBS News|title=Terrorism Alliance?|date=2002-07-26|accessdate=2006-07-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/08/13/iraq.terror/|publisher=CNN World News|author=Mike Boettcher, Henry Schuster|title=New terror alliance suspected in Iraq|date=2003-08-13|accessdate=2006-07-26}}</ref></br>

==Outside views==
===Public opinion===
[[Image:Hassan Nasrallah demo.jpg|thumb|220px|right|People support of Hezbollah during [[2006 Lebanon war]]; July 29 Rally in [[Toronto]], Canada]]
In much of the Arab world, Hezbollah is seen as a legitimate resistance organization that has defended its land against an Israeli occupying force and has consistently stood up to the Israeli army.<ref name=nybooks/>

According to a poll released by the "Beirut Center for Research and Information" on 26 July during the [[2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict]], 87 percent of Lebanese support Hezbollah's fight with Israel, a rise of 29 percentage points from a similar poll conducted in February. More striking, however, was the level of support for Hezbollah's resistance from non-Shiite communities. Eighty percent of Christians polled supported Hezbollah, along with 80 percent of [[Druze]] and 89 percent of [[Sunni]]s.<ref name="www-csmon-is-st-m-b-h-b">{{cite web|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0728/p06s01-wome.html|first=Nicholas|last=Blanford|publisher=Christian Science Monitor|title=Israeli strikes may boost Hizbullah base|date=2006-07-28|accessdate=2006-07-29}}</ref><ref name="www-beirutcenter-692-mi-46">{{cite web|url=http://www.beirutcenter.info/default.asp?contentid=692&MenuID=46|publisher=Beirut Center For Research & Information|title=Poll finds support for Hizbullah's retaliation|date=2006-07-29|accessdate=2006-08-08}}</ref>

In a poll of Lebanese adults taken in 2004, 6% of respondents gave unqualified support to the statement "Hezbollah should be disarmed". 41% reported unqualified disagreement.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/6914
|title=Angus Reid Global Monitor: Polls & Research / Hezbollah’s Disarmament Pondered In Lebanon
|publisher=[[Angus Reid Global Monitor]]
|date=2005-04-25
|quote=Source: Zogby International / Information International / The Arab American Institute
|accessdate=2007-10-27}}</ref> A poll of Gaza Strip and West Bank residents indicated that 79.6% had "a very good view" of Hezbollah, and most of the remainder had a "good view".<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/12694
|title=Angus Reid Global Monitor: Polls & Research / Palestinians Hold Hezbollah in High Regard
|publisher=[[Angus Reid Global Monitor]]
|date=2006-07-29
|quote=Source: [[An-Najah National University]]
|accessdate=2007-10-28}}</ref> Polls of Jordanian adults in December 2005 and June 2006 showed that 63.9% and 63.3%, respectively, considered Hezbollah to be a legitimate resistance organization.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/12527 |title=Angus Reid Global Monitor: Polls & Research / Hamas, Hezbollah Legitimate for Jordanians |publisher=[[Angus Reid Global Monitor]] |date=2006-07-14 |quote=Source: Centre for Strategic Studies at the [[University of Jordan]] |accessdate=2007-10-28}}</ref> In the December 2005 poll, only 6% of Jordanian adults considered Hezbollah to be terrorist.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/10495 |title=Angus Reid Global Monitor: Polls & Research / Jordanians Review Legitimacy of Specific Groups |publisher=[[Angus Reid Global Monitor]] |date=2006-01-11 |quote=Source: Centre for Strategic Studies at the [[University of Jordan]] |accessdate=2007-10-28}}</ref>

A July 2006 ''[[USA Today]]''/[[Gallup poll]] found that 83% of the 1,005 Americans polled blamed Hezbollah, at least in part, for the [[2006 Lebanon War]], compared to 66% who blamed Israel to some degree. Additionally, 76% disapproved of the military action Hezbollah took in Israel, compared to 38% who disapproved of Israel's military action in Lebanon.<ref name="Pollingreport" />
A poll in August 2006 by [[ABC News]] and the ''[[Washington Post]]'' found that 68% of the 1,002 Americans polled blamed Hezbollah, at least in part, for the civilian casualties in Lebanon during the [[2006 Lebanon War]], compared to 31% who blamed Israel to some degree.<ref name="Pollingreport">[http://www.pollingreport.com/israel.htm "Israel/Palestinians."] ''PollingReport.com''. 10 December 2006.</ref> Another August 2006 poll by [[CNN]] showed that 69% of the 1,047 Americans polled believed that Hezbollah is unfriendly towards, or an enemy of, the United States.<ref name="Pollingreport" />

===Designation as a terrorist organization or resistance movement===
Governments disagree on Hezbollah’s status as a legitimate political entity, a terrorist [[Groups of People|group]], or both. During the Israeli occupation of the "Security Zone" in South Lebanon, most of the [[Arab world|Arab]] and [[Muslim world]]s have regarded Hezbollah as a legitimate [[resistance movement]].<ref name="HG20Ak02"/> Governments disagree on Hezbollah’s status as a legitimate political entity, a terrorist [[Groups of People|group]], or both. Throughout most of the [[Arab world|Arab]] and [[Muslim world]]s, Hezbollah is highly regarded as a legitimate [[resistance movement]].<ref name="HG20Ak02"/> Hezbollah's violent acts are considered by some countries as [[terrorist]] attacks; other governments regard Hezbollah as a [[resistance movement]] engaged in national defense."<ref name = "hiof-Views">[http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/300/320/324/324.2/hizballah/hizballah-background.html Hizbullah: Views and Concepts]</ref><ref>[http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/300/320/324/324.2/hizballah/statement01.html Statement of purpose]</ref>

The countries below have officially listed Hezbollah in at least some part as a [[terrorist organization]].
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
|-
|{{flagcountry|Australia}}
|The Hezbollah External Security Organization
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/agd/www/nationalsecurity.nsf/AllDocs/7986D1536C0FFD5FCA256FCD001BE859?OpenDocument|publisher=Australian National Security|title=Hizballah External Security Organisation Relisted|accessdate=2006-08-21|date=2005-07-18}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagcountry|Canada}}
|The entire organization Hezbollah
|<ref>See:
*{{cite web|url=http://www.osfi-bsif.gc.ca/eng/documents/advisories/docs/entstld.txt|title=Reference list|publisher=Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada|accessdate=2006-07-25}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.psepc.gc.ca/prg/ns/le/cle-en.asp|title=Listed entities pursuant to the Anti-Terrorism Act (2001, c. 41)|accessdate=2006-07-16|publisher=Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC), Government of Canada}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagcountry|Israel}}
|The entire organization Hezbollah
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2005/Summary+of+Terrorist+Activity+2004.htm|title=Summary of Terrorist Activity 2004|accessdate=2006-07-15|date=2005-01-05|publisher=Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ict.org.il/index.php?sid=119&lang=en&act=page&id=5209&str=hizballah|title=: A Pragmatic Terror Organization of Global Reach - A Snapshot (February, 2005)|accessdate=2007-03-27|date=2005-02|publisher=the [[International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism]] (ICT)}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagcountry|Netherlands}}
|The entire organization Hezbollah
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.minbuza.nl/nl/actueel/brievenparlement,2003/12/beantwoording_toezegging_inzake_de_positie_van_hezbollah.html|title=beantwoording_toezegging_inzake_de_positie_van_hezbollah |publisher=The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs |accessdate=2006-10-11|pages=1|format=website}}</ref><ref name=nlfas>{{cite web|url=http://www.fas.org/irp/world/netherlands/aivd2004-eng.pdf|title=Annual Report 2004|publisher=Netherlands General intelligence and security service|format=PDF}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagcountry|UK}}
|The Hezbollah External Security Organization
|<ref name="UKHO"/><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5262484.stm Quick guide: Hezbollah] BBC news, 2006-08-22</ref>
|-
|{{flagcountry|US}}
|The entire organization Hezbollah
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/fs/37191.htm|title=Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs)|accessdate=2006-07-16|date=2005-10-11|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]}} "Current List of Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations ... 14. Hizballah (Party of God)".</ref>
|-
|}

In 1999, Hezbollah was placed on the US State Department terrorism list. After Hezbollah's condemnation of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the USA, it was removed from the list, but it was later returned to the list.<ref name="urlFranklin Lamb: Why is Hezbollah on the Terrorism List?">{{cite web |url=http://www.counterpunch.org/lamb04062007.html|first=Franklin | last =Lamb |title=Why is Hezbollah on the Terrorism List? |format= |work= |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref> In 2002, US State Department official Christopher Ross was cited as explaining that while "the Hezbollah party and some of its members carried out terrorist acts in the past", "the acts that it carried out against the Israeli forces in South Lebanon were not terrorist acts."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/020323/2002032309.html |title=Ross: Hizbullah's resistance of Israel is not terrorism |publisher=arabicnews.com |date=2002-03-23 |quote=In a statement to the Kuwaiti daily al-Rai al-Am issued on Friday, Ross said: ... "we are obliged to describe this organization by putting it in the American lists as a terrorist." |accessdate=2007-10-29}}</ref>

The [[European Union]] does not list Hezbollah as a "terrorist organization",<ref>[http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/lebanon/intro/ redirect<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> but does list the late [[Imad Mugniyah]], a senior member and founder of Hezbollah, as a terrorist.<ref name = "eu.int-Council">{{cite news|url=http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2005/l_340/l_34020051223en00640066.pdf|title=COUNCIL DECISION of 21 December 2005 implementing Article 2(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 on specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities with a view to combating terrorism and repealing Decision 2005/848/EC(2005/930/EC)|publisher=Official Journal of the European Union|format=PDF}}</ref><ref name="EU report">
{{cite web |url=http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2005/l_314/l_31420051130en00410045.pdf
|publication=Official Journal of the European Union
|date=29 November 2005
|title=COUNCIL COMMON POSITION 2005/847/CFSP|format=PDF}}
</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/lebanon/intro/ | title=The EU's relations with Lebanon | month=December | year=2005 | accessdate=2007-05-19}}</ref> In addition, on March 10, 2005, the [[European Parliament]] passed a [[non-binding resolution]] recognizing "clear evidence" of "terrorist activities by Hezbollah"<!--This site isn't accessible<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/050311/2005031123.html
|title=European parliament calls for putting an end to Hizbullah terrorist acts
|publisher=ArabicNews.com
|accessdate=2006-07-16
|date=2005-03-11}}</ref>--><ref name="ISN_watch">ISN Security Watch (March 11, 2005). [http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?id=10923 "EU lawmakers label Hezbollah 'terrorist’ group"]. Retrieved March 3, 2007.</ref> and urging the [[Council of the European Union|EU Council]] to brand Hezbollah a terrorist organization and EU governments to place Hezbollah on their terrorist blacklists, as the bloc did with the Palestinian [[Hamas]] group in 2003.<ref name="ISN_watch" /> The Council, however, has been reluctant to do this, because France, Spain, and [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland|Britain]] fear that such a move would further damage the prospects for Middle East peace talks.<ref name="ISN_watch" /> The EU Council designates the late [[Imad Mugniyah]] as a terrorist, claiming he is Hezbollah's "Senior Intelligence Officer".<ref name = "eu.int-Council"/><ref name="EU report"/>
In the midst of the 2006 conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, Russia’s government declined to include Hezbollah in a newly-released list of terrorist organizations, with Yuri Sapunov, the head of anti-terrorism for the [[Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation]], saying that they list only organizations which represent "the greatest threat to the security of our country".<ref>
{{cite news
|title=Hezbollah not on Russia's "terrorist" list
|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/28/AR2006072801433.html
|publisher=[[Associated Press]]
|date-2006-07-28
|quote=Sapunov told Rossiiskaya Gazeta the list of 17 "includes only those organizations which represent the greatest threat to the security of our country." Groups linked to separatist militants in Chechnya and Islamic radicals in Central Asia made the list.
|accessdate=2007-10-27}}</ref> Prior to the release of the list, Russian Defense Minister [[Sergei Ivanov]] called "on Hezbollah to stop resorting to any terrorist methods, including attacking neighboring states."<ref>
{{cite news
|url=http://www.envirosagainstwar.org/know/read.php?itemid=4382<!-- haaretz link not found -->
|title=Russian defense minister says Hezbollah uses 'terrorist methods' - Haaretz - Israel News
|date=2006-07-15
|author=[[Haaretz]] Service and News Agencies
|accessdate=2007-10-27}}
</ref>

The Quartet’s fourth member, the [[United Nations]], does not maintain such a list.<ref>United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee [http://www.un.org/sc/ctc/ Portal] Accessed 7 August 2006</ref> Human rights organizations [[Amnesty International]] and [[Human Rights Watch]] have accused Hezbollah of committing [[war crimes]] against Israeli [[civilians]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060914.whezbollah0914/BNStory/International | title=Amnesty: Hezbollah committed war crimes against Israel | work=TheGlobeandMail.com/AP | author=Katie Fretland | date=14 September 2006 | accessdate=2007-05-19}}</ref> in which in the same article, they also accused Israel of war crimes but against Lebanese civilians.

Some other countries have criticized Hezbollah, citing terrorist activities, without maintaining such a list. [[Argentina|Argentine]] prosecutors hold Hezbollah and their financial supporters in Iran responsible for the [[1994 AMIA Bombing|1994 bombing]] of a Jewish cultural center, described by the [[Associated Press]] as "the worst terrorist attack on Argentine soil", in which "[e]ighty-five people were killed and more than 200 others injured."<ref name="Argentine"/> On 24 February 2000, [[Prime Minister of France|French Prime Minister]] [[Lionel Jospin]] condemned attacks by Hezbollah fighters on Israeli forces in south Lebanon, saying they are "terrorism" and not acts of resistance. "France condemns Hezbollah's attacks, and all types of terrorist attacks which may be carried out against soldiers, or possibly Israel's civilian population."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/655963.stm French PM lashes Hezbollah 'terrorism']</ref> On August 29, 2006, Italian Foreign Minister [[Massimo D'Alema]] differentiated the wings of Hezbollah: "Apart from their well-known terrorist activities, they also have political standing and are socially engaged."<ref>[http://www.esteri.it/eng/6_38_227_01.asp?id=2600&mod=2&min=1 D'Alema: The end of unilateralism, UN back in the lead]</ref><ref>[http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1154525966123&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter Italian FM: Hezbollah, Hamas are not al-Qaida]</ref> Germany does not maintain an independent national list of terrorist organizations, choosing instead to adopt the common EU list; however, German officials indicate that they would likely support a designation of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.<ref>[http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33808.pdf Germany’s Relations with Israel: Background and Implications for German Middle East Policy] [[Congressional Research Service]] (January 19, 2007)</ref>

In contrast, supporters of Hezbollah justify Hezbollah's attacks against Israel on several grounds. Firstly, Hezbollah justifies its operations against Israel as reciprocal to Israeli operations against Lebanese civilians and as retaliation for Israel's occupation of [[Lebanon|Lebanese territory]].<ref name = "hiof-Views"/><ref>[http://hrw.org/reports/1996/Israel.htm CIVILIAN PAWNS, Laws of War Violations and the Use of Weapons on the Israel-Lebanon Border]</ref><ref>[http://hrw.org/reports/1997/isrleb/Isrleb.htm ISRAEL/LEBANON "OPERATION GRAPES OF WRATH"]</ref> Many of these attacks took place while Israel occupied the southern part of [[Lebanon]] and held it as a security zone in spite of [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 425]]. Although Israel withdrew from Lebanon in 2000, and their complete withdrawal was verified by the [[United Nations]], Lebanon now considers the [[Shebaa farms]]—a 26-km² (10-mi²) piece of land captured by Israel from [[Syria]] in the 1967 war and considered by the UN to be disputed territory between Syria and Israel—to be Lebanese territory. Additionally, Hezbollah has identified [[Lebanese prisoners in Israel|three Lebanese prisoners]] held in Israeli jails who it wants released.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/21/AR2006072101363.html Hezbollah's Apocalypse Now]</ref> Finally, Hezbollah and others among the Muslim world consider Israel to be an illegitimate state. For these reasons, many in the Arab world consider acts performed by Hezbollah against Israel to be justified as acts of [[defensive Jihad]].<ref name="Thisreen1999-1">Thisreen (Syrian newspaper) June 21, 1999, reprinted by MEMRI [http://memri.org/bin/opener.cgi?Page=archives&ID=SP3699 Secretary General of Hizbullah Discusses the New Israeli Government and Hizbullah’s Struggle Against Israel] Accessed July 30, 2006</ref> Although some Arab states ([[Egypt]], [[Jordan]], and [[Saudi Arabia]]) have condemned Hezbollah's actions, saying that "the Arabs and Muslims can't afford to allow an irresponsible and adventurous organization like Hezbollah to drag the region to war" and calling it "dangerous adventurism,"<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150886029284&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
|title=Arab world fed up with Hizbullah
|date=2006-07-17
|accessdate=2006-08-17
|author=''[[The Jerusalem Post]]''}}
</ref> Hezbollah is regarded as a legitimate resistance movement throughout much of Lebanese society and the Arab and Muslim world.<ref name="HG20Ak02"/> In August 2008, Lebanon's cabinet completed a policy statement which recognized "the right of Lebanon's people, army, and resistance to liberate the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms, Kafar Shuba Hills, and the Lebanese section of Ghajar village, and defend the country using all legal and possible means." <ref>Nafez Qawas, [[Daily Star (Lebanon)|The Daily Star]] (August 6, 2008). [http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=94824 "Berri summons Parliament to vote on policy statement"] Retrieved August 6, 2008.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Israel-Lebanon conflict]]
* [[2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict]]
* [[2006–2007 Lebanese political protests]]
* [[2008 unrest in Lebanon]]
* [[History of Lebanon]]
* [[Foreign relations of Lebanon]]
* [[Politics of Lebanon]]
* [[AMIA bombing]]
* [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 425]]
* [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701]]
* [[Al-Mahdi Scouts]]

==Footnotes==
<div style="height: 400px; overflow: auto; padding: 3px; border:1px solid #AAAAAA; reflist" >
{{reflist|2}}
</div>


==References==
==References==
<references />
;''Books''


[[Category:Internet memes]]
*{{cite book|author=[[Joseph Alagha]]|year=2006|title=The Shifts in Hizbullah's Ideology: Religious Ideology, Political Ideology|publisher=Amsterdam University Press|id=ISBN 9053569103}}
[[Category:Instrumentals]]

[[Category:YouTube videos]]
*{{cite book|author=[[Tom Diaz]], [[Barbara Newman]]|year=2005|url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/0345475682/|title=Lightning Out of Lebanon: Hezbollah Terrorists on American Soil|publisher=Presidio Press|id=ISBN 0-345-47568-2}}

*{{cite book|author=[[Ahmad Nizar Hamzeh]]|year=2004|title=In The Path Of Hizbullah|url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/0815630530/ |publisher=Syracuse University Press|id=ISBN 0-8156-3053-0}}

*{{cite book|author=[[Judith Palmer Harik]]|year=2006|title=Hezbollah: The Changing Face of Terrorism|publisher=I.B. Tauris|url=http://www.ibtauris.com/ibtauris/display.aspK=510000000440882&cid=ibtauris&sf_01=CAUTHOR&st_01=harik&sf_02=CTITLE&sf_03=KEYWORD&m=1&dc=1|id=ISBN 1-845-110242}}

*{{cite book|author=[[Hala Jaber]]|year=1997|url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/0231108346/|title=Hezbollah|publisher=[[Columbia University Press]]|id=ISBN 0-231-10834-6}}

*{{cite book|author=[[Avi Jorisch]]|year=2004|url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/0944029884/|title=Beacon of Hatred: Inside Hizballahs Al-Manar Television|publisher=Washington Institute for Near East Policy|id=ISBN 0-944029-88-4}}

*{{cite book|author=[[Augustus Richard Norton]]|year=2000|url=http://www.cfr.org/publication/8612/hizballah_of_lebanon.html|publisher=Council on Foreign Relations.|title=Hizballah of Lebanon: Extremist Ideals vs. Mundane Politics}}

*{{cite book|author=[[Augustus Richard Norton]]|year=2007|url=http://press.princeton.edu/titles/8363.html|title=Hezbollah: A Short History|publisher=Princeton University Press|id=ISBN 978-0-691-13124-5}}

* {{cite book | last=Qassem | first=Naim | authorlink=Naim Qassem | title=Hizbullah: The Story from Within | publisher=Saqi Books | year=2005 |id = ISBN 978-0863565175}}

*{{cite book|author=[[Magnus Ranstorp]]|year=1996|url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/0312164912/|title=Hizb'Allah in Lebanon: The Politics of the Western Hostage Crisis|publisher=St. Martin's Press|id=ISBN 0-312-16491-2}}

*{{cite book|author=[[Amal Saad-Ghorayeb]]|year=2001|title=Hizbullah: Politics and Religion|publisher=[[Pluto Press]]|id=ISBN 0-7453-1793-6}}

*{{cite book|author=[[Jamal Sankari]]|year=2005|url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/0863565964/|title=Fadlallah: The Making of a Radical Shi'ite Leader|publisher=Saqi Books|id=ISBN 0-86356-596-4}}</div>

;''Articles''
*{{cite web |url=http://www.nybooks.com/articles/17060 |title=In Search of Hezbollah |author=Adam Shatz |publisher=[[The New York Review of Books]] |date=[[2004-04-29]] |accessdate=2007-10-27}} ([http://www.mafhoum.com/press7/190P8.htm copy])
*{{cite web
|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HG20Ak02.html
|title=Hezbollah's transformation
|author=Dahr Jamail
|publisher=Asia Times
|date=2006-07-20
|accessdate=2007-10-27}}
*{{cite web
|url=http://www.angus-reid.com/tracker/view/6962
|title=Lebanon: Angus Reid Global Monitor
|publisher=[[Angus Reid Global Monitor]]
|year=2005
|accessdate=2007-10-27}} ([http://www.angus-reid.com/uppdf/Lebanon_RoundbyRound.pdf full election results report])


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.jerryc.tw/ JerryC and the C band's webpage]
{{Wikiquote}}
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/27/arts/television/27heff.html New York Times article on Canon Rock]

* [http://screens.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/10/the-anthologist/ another New York Times article on Canon Rock]
===Official sites===
* [http://www.ghaliboun.net/ Islamic Resistance in Lebanon Official Website]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMWl_5NujBw Ultimate Canon Rock]
* [http://www.moqavemat.ir/?lang=en Islamic Resistance in Lebanon]
* [http://english.wa3ad.org/ Promise For the Resistance Movement Support]
* [http://www.almanar.com.lb/NewsSite/HomePage.aspx?language=en Al-Manar TV]
* [http://www.al-nour.net/ Al-Nour radio]
* [http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/300/320/324/324.2/hizballah/ Hizbullah - the Party of God - List of links to official websites and documents]

===UN resolutions regarding Hezbollah===
* [http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/sc8181.doc.htm UN Press Release SC/8181] UN, September 2, 2004
* [http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11823&Cr=Lebanon&Cr1= Lebanon: Close Security Council vote backs free elections, urges foreign troop pullout] UN, September 2, 2004
* [[Wikisource:UN Security Council Resolution 1391]]
* [[Wikisource:UN Security Council Resolution 1496]]
* [[Wikisource:UN Security Council Resolution 1559]]
* [[Wikisource:UN Security Council Resolution 1583]]

===United States Department of State===
* [http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/rpt/fto/2801.htm Background Information on Foreign Terrorist Organizations], released by the [[Office of Counterterrorism]], October 8, 1999.

===Other links===
* [http://www.merip.org/mero/mero073106.html Hizballah: A Primer]
* [http://www.cfr.org/publication/9155/ Backgrounder > Hezbollah], Council on Foreign Relations
* [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3284023,00.html Hizbullah - the 'Party of God'] [[Ynetnews]]
* [http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/html/pdf/hezbollah-testimony-05252005.pdf Hezbollah]: Financing Terror through Criminal Enterprise, Testimony of Matthew Levitt, Hearing of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4314423.stm Who are Hezbollah?] - BBC News Online
* [http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2007/832/op92.htm Hizbullah's two republics] by Mohammed Ben Jelloun, Al-Ahram, February 15-21, 2007
* [http://www.aph.gov.au/Library/pubs/rn/2002-03/03rn42.htm Hezbollah in Profile], Parliament of Australia ([http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/rn/2002-03/03rn42.pdf PDF] version)
*[http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/lebanon/thestory.html Inside Hezbollah], short documentary and extensive information from ''Frontline/World'' on PBS.
* [http://www.standwithus.com/pdfs/flyers/hezbollah_program.pdf An Open Letter: The Hezbollah Program] - Hezbollah's 1985 manifesto translated into English.
* [http://www.mideastmonitor.org/issues/0609/0609_6.htm Briefing: Lebanese Public Opinion] Mideast monitor
* [http://www.semp.us/biots/biot_183.html Lebanon’s Hizbullah—Conventional Political Party or Terrorist Group?(Organizational Chart of Lebanon’s Hizbullah)]

{{Lebanese political parties}}
{{Arab-Israeli Conflict}}

[[Category:Political parties established in 1982]]
[[Category:Hezbollah|*]]
[[Category:Islam and antisemitism]]
[[Category:Israel-Lebanon conflict]]
[[Category:Anti-Zionism]]
[[Category:Islamist groups]]
[[Category:Shiite organizations]]
[[Category:Political parties in Lebanon]]
[[Category:Terrorism in Lebanon]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorism]]
[[Category:National liberation movements]]


[[de:Canon Rock (Musik)]]
{{Link FA|la}}
[[es:Canon Rock (canción)]]
[[af:Hezbollah]]
[[ar:حزب الله]]
[[fr:Canon Rock]]
[[ja:カノンロック]]
[[arc:ܚܙܒܐܠܠܗ]]
[[zh-min-nan:Hizb Allah]]
[[pl:Canon Rock]]
[[bs:Hezbollah]]
[[sv:Canon Rock]]
[[br:Hezbollah]]
[[bg:Хизбула]]
[[ca:Hesbol·là]]
[[cv:Хезболла]]
[[cs:Hizballáh]]
[[cy:Hizballah]]
[[da:Hizbollah]]
[[de:Hisbollah]]
[[et:Ḩizb Allāh]]
[[el:Χεζμπολάχ]]
[[es:Hezbolá]]
[[eo:Hizbulaho]]
[[eu:Hezbola]]
[[fa:حزب‌الله لبنان]]
[[fr:Hezbollah]]
[[gl:Hesbulá]]
[[ko:헤즈볼라]]
[[hr:Hezbollah]]
[[io:Hizbollah]]
[[id:Hizbullah (Lebanon)]]
[[ia:Hezbollah]]
[[is:Hizbollah]]
[[it:Hezbollah]]
[[he:חזבאללה]]
[[sw:Hezbollah]]
[[la:Hizbullah]]
[[lt:Hezbollah]]
[[ms:Hizbullah]]
[[nl:Hezbollah]]
[[ja:ヒズボラ]]
[[no:Hizbollah]]
[[nn:Hizbollah]]
[[ps:د حزب الله اسلامی غورځنګ]]
[[pl:Hezbollah]]
[[pt:Hizbollah]]
[[ru:Хезболла]]
[[scn:Hezbollah]]
[[simple:Hezbollah]]
[[sk:Hizballáh]]
[[sl:Hezbolah]]
[[sr:Хезболах]]
[[sh:Hezbollah]]
[[fi:Hizbollah]]
[[sv:Hizbollah]]
[[ta:ஹெஸ்புல்லா]]
[[th:ฮิซบุลลอหฺ]]
[[vi:Hezbollah]]
[[tr:Hizbullah (Lübnan)]]
[[uk:Хізбалла]]
[[yi:כעזבאלא]]
[[zh:真主党]]

Revision as of 00:59, 13 October 2008

"Canon Rock"
Song

"Canon Rock" is a neo-classical metal arrangement of Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D major by the Taiwanese musician and composer Jerry Chang (JerryC). The composition contains a variety of melodic licks (more suitable for the advanced guitarists), showing Jerry's unique way of phrasing and his immense finger dexterity. The piece became popular on the internet after a video of JerryC playing the piece was posted online. The rendition has been featured in newspapers, magazines, and television shows. The re-arrangement was composed within two weeks.

Currently, JerryC is hosting lessons to teach Canon Rock to amateurs.

Covers

Template:Sound sample box align right

Jeong-Hyun Lim "Canon Rock"
30 second sample from Jeong-Hyun Lim's performance of Canon Rock
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Template:Sample box end

The most famous of the covers is by a South Korean guitarist named Jeong-Hyun Lim, who is more popularly known by his internet alias, "funtwo". His video is the sixteenth most viewed and fourth most "favorited" video in YouTube history[1][2] with over 50 million views and counting.

Many people have covered Canon Rock, often posting videos of the cover on sites such as YouTube or Google Video. For the best example of this, there is a medley posted to YouTube in June 2007 which features over two dozen different individuals playing this piece.

Many Canon Rock covers are filmed in private locations, allowing the artist to record the performance as many times as needed to achieve a note-perfect recording.

Tablature

Tablature for JerryC's and MattRach's versions of the piece is available[3][4].

References

  1. ^ "List of YouTube videos by all-time views".
  2. ^ "List of YouTube videos by all-time top favorites".
  3. ^ "Canon Rock Tab by Jerryc, www.Ultimate-Guitar.Com".
  4. ^ "Mattrach - New Canon Rock Tab by Misc Unsigned Bands, www.Ultimate-Guitar.Com".

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hezbollah&oldid=244887660"