Jul 25, 2006
Nick,
Yes, Hizbollah are Shia muslims (which I am not by the way).
When Israel invaded Lebanon 20 years ago, they just walked by the UN forces there and walked over the pitiful excuse for a Lebanese army. The result was a massacre of Palestinians in Sabra and Shatilla and then years of civil war where thousands died.
Hizbollah decided to arm themselves and not let a situation where Israel could walk in unheeded again. They fought a guerilla campaign against the occupying Israelis and eventually forced them out in 2000. They forced Israel to exchange prisoners that were languishing in Israeli jails.
The issue is that these facts mean that they are only Arab/Muslim group that has managed to a. push the Israeli military back out of occupation and b. have managed to negotiate the freedom of prisoners held in Israeli prisons.
You are right though - the fact that these fighters are Shia is sending shivers down the spines of people in Riyadh, Washington and Tel Aviv. Actions speak louder than words. Hizbollah attacked military targets after Israel started pounding Gaza - they did not fire on civilians until Israel started pounding on Civilians in Lebanon.
My view is that Druze, Christian and Sunni Lebanese all would rather have a strong Lebanese army and not be in a position of being subservient to a military attack from Israel. The tragedy is that it has taken a Shia group to organise themselves and offer Israel any resistance.
The Israeli reaction, in my mind, is a sign of their realisation that there are groups now strong enough to attack their MILITARY and remove this smokescreen they kept throwing up that their 'enemies' are terrorists rather than occupied people fighting against violators of international law.
It's been said before - but the point bears repeating. The reaction of Israel to suicide bombings of civilians was nothing compared to the reaction to the capture of 3 (!!) soldiers.
Israel is hoping against hope that it can re-ignite Lebanese civil strife and set Sunni against Shia, Christian against Muslim etc as it did 20 years ago. I'm not sure that they won't suceed. But for now, my Christian Lebanese colleagues are all saying that the suffering their families are enduring is due to Israeli aggression and they are not blaming Hizbollah for the destruction.
Cheers,
Shafique