Lebanon's Border Regime: Fluid Rigidity, Foreign Interference
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“Shutting out Hezbollah in Its Entirety Will Destabilize the Lebanese
CLAIM “Shutting out Hezbollah in its entirety will destabilize the Lebanese government, in which Hezbollah and its allies gained a vast majority of the popular vote in parliamentary elections, making it one of the most effective fighting forces against the Islamic State group.” SHORT RESPONSE HEZBOLLAH IS THE DESTABILIZER IN THE LEBANESE GOVERNMENT AND HAS DONE LITTLE TO DEFEAT THE ISLAMIC STATE. INSTEAD, IT ASPIRES TO BECOME SOMETHING SIMILAR. THE FACTS The struggle to reduce the capabilities of a terrorist organization is ongoing, multi-dimensional, and requires a great deal of determination. A terrorist organization such as Hezbollah, which operates simultaneously as a terrorist organization and within the framework of the Lebanese political system as a “legitimate party,” relies on civilian infrastructure, living spaces, and sources of funding. It carries out profit and loss considerations on an ongoing basis. Reducing Hezbollah’s capabilities and influence must be achieved by exerting pressure on the organization — directly and indirectly. The key to this is international cooperation and the mobilization of political elements in the government to reduce Hezbollah’s power. SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON HEZBOLLAH A Joint Project by AJC and the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism KEY DETAILS WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN TO Î For years, an alliance between the Christian camp and the DESIGNATE HEZBOLLAH? Sunnis controlled the centers of power in the Lebanese The significance of designating Hezbollah as a terrorist political system. organization primarily derives from the entities that carry Î The assassination of Rafic Hariri, the Syrian withdrawal out the designation. The list of countries that have made the from Lebanon, Hezbollah’s entry into the government, designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization include: and especially the rivalry in the Christian camp led to the consolidation of new political dynamics, including an alliance Israel 1982 between President Michel Aoun from the Christian camp and Hezbollah. -
Song, State, Sawa Music and Political Radio Between the US and Syria
Song, State, Sawa Music and Political Radio between the US and Syria Beau Bothwell Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY 2013 © 2013 Beau Bothwell All rights reserved ABSTRACT Song, State, Sawa: Music and Political Radio between the US and Syria Beau Bothwell This dissertation is a study of popular music and state-controlled radio broadcasting in the Arabic-speaking world, focusing on Syria and the Syrian radioscape, and a set of American stations named Radio Sawa. I examine American and Syrian politically directed broadcasts as multi-faceted objects around which broadcasters and listeners often differ not only in goals, operating assumptions, and political beliefs, but also in how they fundamentally conceptualize the practice of listening to the radio. Beginning with the history of international broadcasting in the Middle East, I analyze the institutional theories under which music is employed as a tool of American and Syrian policy, the imagined youths to whom the musical messages are addressed, and the actual sonic content tasked with political persuasion. At the reception side of the broadcaster-listener interaction, this dissertation addresses the auditory practices, histories of radio, and theories of music through which listeners in the sonic environment of Damascus, Syria create locally relevant meaning out of music and radio. Drawing on theories of listening and communication developed in historical musicology and ethnomusicology, science and technology studies, and recent transnational ethnographic and media studies, as well as on theories of listening developed in the Arabic public discourse about popular music, my dissertation outlines the intersection of the hypothetical listeners defined by the US and Syrian governments in their efforts to use music for political ends, and the actual people who turn on the radio to hear the music. -
Lebanon in the Syrian Quagmire
Lebanon in the Syrian Quagmire: Fault-Lines, Resilience and Possible Futures Ishac Diwan, Paris Sciences et Lettres Youssef Chaitani, UN ESCWA Working Paper for Discussion The purpose of this paper is to examine the weaknesses and strengths of Lebanon amidst the tensions created by the Syrian conflict that started in 2011. Lebanon’s sectarian governance system has been over 150 years in the making. But the Syrian fire next door, which has taken an increasing sectarian nature, is likely to burn for a long time. With such dire prospects, what is the fate of Lebanon’s governance system? Will it lead the country inexorably towards civil strife? The Lebanese governance system could be described as a horizontal deal among communal oligarchs, supported by vertical organizations within each community. While oligarchs have changed over time, the system itself survived devastating civil wars, endured extensive global and regional influences, and was also undeterred by the projection of power by many external forces, including the Palestinian Liberation Organization, Syria, Iran and Israel. What are the forces at work that make the Lebanese governance system both resilient and resistant to change? In the paper, we use as an analytical framework, which is introduced in section one, the model of limited orders developed by Douglas North and his associates. In section two, we argue that the Syrian civil war is likely to be long lasting. Section three examines the weaknesses and fault-lines of the Lebanese system in light of the Syrian war. Section four explores the factors that continue to contribute to the strength and resilience of Lebanon in spite of the rise in extremist Islamic militancy. -
General Assembly Distr.: General 3 October 2001 English Original: English/French
United Nations A/56/428 General Assembly Distr.: General 3 October 2001 English Original: English/French Fifty-sixth session Agenda item 88 Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories Note by the Secretary-General* The General Assembly, at its fifty-fifth session, adopted resolution 55/130 on the work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories, in which, among other matters, it requested the Special Committee: (a) Pending complete termination of the Israeli occupation, to continue to investigate Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, especially Israeli lack of compliance with the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and to consult, as appropriate, with the International Committee of the Red Cross according to its regulations in order to ensure that the welfare and human rights of the peoples of the occupied territories are safeguarded and to report to the Secretary- General as soon as possible and whenever the need arises thereafter; (b) To submit regularly to the Secretary-General periodic reports on the current situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem; (c) To continue to investigate the treatment of prisoners in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967. -
Arab Racism Islamo Fascism Just Another Wordpress.Com Weblog
Arab racism Islamo fascism Just another WordPress.com weblog Posts Tagged ‘White Shirts’ search this site Pages » About Archives Islam Uber Alles? :: Does Islam and Shariah Have More In » April 2012 Common With Nazi Ideology Than With Religion » March 2012 December 1, 2010 » February 2012 » January 2012 Islam Uber Alles? » December 2011 » November 2011 Does Islam and Shariah Have More In Common With Nazi Ideology » October 2011 Than With Religion? » September 2011 » August 2011 By Steven Simpson Monday, October 11, 2010 » July 2011 » June 2011 Since the atrocities committed on 9/11/01 by Middle Eastern Muslim » May 2011 terrorists in the name of Islam, people in the U.S. and West have » April 2011 debated whether Islam is “a religion of peace” or more of an all- » March 2011 encompassing totalitarian ideology cloaked in religious garb. » February 2011 Unfortunately, it appears that the Qur’an, Shariah, and the Islamic » January 2011 terrorist attacks of the last thirty years, indicate that Islam is indeed a » December 2010 totalitarian ideology engaged in an effort of world-wide conquest much » November 2010 like Nazism. The major difference being that Nazism was based on » October 2010 racial affiliation while Islam is based on religious affiliation. » September 2010 » August 2010 The word “Islam” – contrary to popular belief – means “submission” » July 2010 and not “peace.” When Islam was founded by Muhammad ibn Abdallah » June 2010 in the 7th century, it conquered the Arabian Peninsula through bloody » May 2010 » April 2010 wars and conquests against fellow Arabs, and Jewish tribes. After the » March 2010 consolidation of Islam in Arabia, the Arabs quickly moved out to » February 2010 conquer the Persian and Byzantine empires, as well as parts of India, » January 2010 and subsequently Spain. -
The Specter of Sunni Military Mobilization in Lebanon
The Specter of Sunni Military Mobilization in Lebanon Patricio Asfura-Heim • Chris Steinitz with contributions by Ghassan Schbley Cleared for public release DOP-2013-U-006349-Final November 2013 Strategic Studies is a division of CNA. This directorate conducts analyses of security policy, regional analyses, studies of political-military issues, and strategy and force assessments. CNA Strategic Studies is part of the glob- al community of strategic studies institutes and in fact collaborates with many of them. On the ground experience is a hallmark of our regional work. Our specialists combine in-country experience, language skills, and the use of local primary-source data to produce empirically based work. All of our analysts have advanced degrees, and virtually all have lived and worked abroad. Similarly, our strategists and military/naval operations experts have either active duty experience or have served as field analysts with operating Navy and Marine Corps commands. They are skilled at anticipating the “prob- lem after next” as well as determining measures of effectiveness to assess ongoing initiatives. A particular strength is bringing empirical methods to the evaluation of peace-time engagement and shaping activities. The Strategic Studies Division’s charter is global. In particular, our analysts have proven expertise in the follow- ing areas: The full range of Asian security issues The full range of Middle East related security issues, especially Iran and the Arabian Gulf Maritime strategy Insurgency and stabilization Future national security environment and forces European security issues, especially the Mediterranean littoral West Africa, especially the Gulf of Guinea Latin America The world’s most important navies Deterrence, arms control, missile defense and WMD proliferation The Strategic Studies Division is led by Dr. -
Understanding Hezbollah's Involvement in Syria by Nadav Pollak, Hanin Ghaddar
MENU Policy Analysis / PolicyWatch 2673 A Transformative Experience: Understanding Hezbollah's Involvement in Syria by Nadav Pollak, Hanin Ghaddar Aug 15, 2016 Also available in Arabic ABOUT THE AUTHORS Nadav Pollak Nadav Pollak is a former Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation fellow at The Washington Institute. Hanin Ghaddar Hanin Ghaddar is the Friedmann Fellow at The Washington Institute's Geduld Program on Arab Politics, where she focuses on Shia politics throughout the Levant. Brief Analysis How has Hezbollah avoided a catastrophic quagmire in Syria and even exploited its campaign there to enhance its military capabilities? Two experts chart the group's evolution and its future threats to Lebanon, Israel, and regional order. n August 11, Nadav Pollak and Hanin Ghaddar addressed a Washington Institute Policy Forum marking the O publication of the new study "The Transformation of Hezbollah by Its Involvement in Syria ." Pollak, the paper's author and a former Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Fellow at the Institute, currently works as a counterterrorism analyst at the Anti-Defamation League. Ghaddar is the Institute's inaugural Friedmann Visiting Fellow and former managing editor of Lebanon's NOW news website. The following is a rapporteur's summary of their remarks. NADAV POLLAK D espite extensive reporting on Hezbollah's involvement in Syria, little attention has been paid to the experience the militia has gained there or the consequences it faces back home in Lebanon. The Hezbollah contingent in Syria (often referred to as "Hezbollah's Eastern Command" by Israeli analysts) deploys between 5,000 and 8,000 fighters at any given time, including Special Forces (Katibat Radwan), standing forces from all units, part-time fighters (taabia), and new recruits who have undergone a fast-tracked combat training period of 60-90 days -- an unprecedented development. -
The MENARA Booklet for the Humanitarian Sector (Eds.) Sala Cristina Cristina & Quero Jordi the MENARA Booklet For
Jordi Quero & Cristina Sala (Eds.) the MENARA MENARA the The HumanitarianSector booklet for the MENARA booklet for The Humanitarian Sector Jordi Quero & Cristina Sala (Eds.) © 2019 CIDOB Editors: Jordi Quero & Cristina Sala CIDOB Elisabets, 12 08001 Barcelona Tel.: 933 026 495 www.cidob.org [email protected] Print: Book-Print S.A. ISBN: 978-84-92511-61-7 Legal Deposit: B 6220-2019 Design and layout: Joan Antoni Balcells Barcelona, February 2019 Cover image Mustafa Khayat. Syrian refugee camp, Karkosik Erbil. https://www.flickr.com/photos/mustafakhayat/11876961544/in/album-72157639625717426/ Foreword ..................................................................................................................... 4 Jordi Quero & Cristina Sala Notes on contributors ............................................................................................... 5 Military factors in the MENA region: Challenging trends ..................................... 7 Sven Biscop & Julien Sassel Armed conflicts and the erosion of the state: The cases of Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Syria ...................................................................................................... 17 Virginie Collombier, Maria-Louise Clausen, Hiba Hassan, Helle Malmvig, Jan Pêt Khorto Militarization and militia-ization dynamics of armed group proliferation in Egypt and Libya .................................................................................................. 28 Rasmus Boserup & Virginie Collombier Demographic and economic material factors in the MENA -
An Analysis of Hezbollah's Use of Irregular Warfare (2012)
AN ANALYSIS OF HEZBOLLAH’S USE OF IRREGULAR WARFARE STEPHEN KEITH MULHERN Intelligence and National Security Studies Program APPROVED: Larry A. Valero, Ph.D., Chair Charles R. Boehmer, Ph.D. William T. Dean, III, Ph.D. Benjamin C. Flores, Ph.D. Dean of the Graduate School Copyright © by Stephen Keith Mulhern 2012 Dedication To Mom and Dad, Thank you. AN ANALYSIS OF HEZBOLLAH’S USE OF IRREGULAR WARFARE by STEPHEN KEITH MULHERN, B.A. Political Science THESIS Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of The University of Texas at El Paso in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Intelligence and National Security Studies Program THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO December 2012 Acknowledgements I would like to thank: Drs. Larry Valero, Charles Boehmer, and William Dean for taking the time to be part of this thesis. Lisa Tomaka, Nicholas Komorowski, and Dr. Dennis Soden for giving me a productive and supportive workplace. And my parents, Michael and Linda Mulhern, for giving me the parental support to finish this work. v Abstract Low-intensity conflicts and insurgencies have been on the rise since the end of World War II. A particularly strong example of these conflicts is the ongoing conflict between the Lebanese Hezbollah and the state of Israel. In the course of the conflict, Hezbollah was able to accomplish what other, more powerful Arab states could not; Hezbollah forced Israel to unilaterally end a conflict. How did Hezbollah accomplish this? This thesis will provide a qualitative analysis of Hezbollah’s use of the instruments of power in their irregular warfare strategy against Israel during the occupation of southern Lebanon. -
Lebanon Date: 14 August 2009
Refugee Review Tribunal AUSTRALIA RRT RESEARCH RESPONSE Research Response Number: LBN35294 Country: Lebanon Date: 14 August 2009 Keywords: Lebanon – Elections – 2009 – Sunnis – March 14 This response was prepared by the Research & Information Services Section of the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RRT within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. This research response may not, under any circumstance, be cited in a decision or any other document. Anyone wishing to use this information may only cite the primary source material contained herein. Questions 1. Please provide a brief report on the position of Sunnis and the political situation in Lebanon following the June 2009 elections? 2. Please provide information on the June 2009 election results. RESPONSE 1. Please provide a brief report on the position of Sunnis and the political situation in Lebanon following the June 2009 elections? 2. Please provide information on the June 2009 election results. Executive Summary Note: There are various Romanised spellings of religious denominations, political parties and place names. Different sources refer to Hizballah and Hizbollah, Shia and Shi’a, Shiite and Shi’ite, Ta’if and Taef. In this response the spellings Hizballah, Shia, Shi’ite and Ta’if are employed, however alternative spellings in source materials have not been altered. Since the end of the civil war in 1990 there have been a number of violent and potentially state-destabilising incidents in Lebanon. Perhaps the most serious include the assassination of the Sunni former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005 and clashes between Hezbollah (Shi’ite) supporters and Sunni Muslims in Beirut in May 2008. -
The Situation of Human Rights in Lebanon
Acknowledgement ALEF is pleased to express its gratitude to all those who contributed, directly or indirectly, to the production of this report, including ALEF’s team, board members, partners and friends. The distribution and printing of the report have been realized with generous support of the Sigrid Rausing Trust. The content of the report are the sole responsibility of ALEF- act for human rights and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Sigrid Rausing Trust. 1 Disclaimer While the team made all efforts possible to cross check information and reproduce only accurate facts and events, this does not overrule the possibility of inaccuracies or oversights, for which ALEF expresses hereby its regrets. 3 Table of Contents Acknowledgement ............................................................................................................................. 1 Disclaimer ......................................................................................................................................... 3 Table of Contents .............................................................................................................................. 4 Abbreviations .................................................................................................................................... 5 Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................... 6 Arbitrary Detention and Guarantees of Fair Trial .............................................................................. -
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem
Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem Report on the Israeli Colonization Activities in the West Bank & the Gaza Strip Volume 183, October 2013 Issue http://www.arij.org Bethlehem • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed and searched several Palestinian houses in At-Tal area in Al-Khader village, west of Bethlehem city. Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the IOA, the IOA fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases. (Maannews 2 October 2013) • Due to the high demand for residential around the Gush Etzion settlement bloc, headed by David Pearl held last week a community event marketing character Orthodox community located east of Gush Etzion and overlooking the breathtaking views of the Judean Desert and Sea - Dead Sea. Event marketing, hundreds of interested and family traveled Regional Council organized rides and departing Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh and Beitar Illit, in addition to the many guests who independently. Guests were impressed by the houses planned program and many of them were continuing process of reception and purchase, while their children enjoyed Fanning particularly experienced and workshops that included inflatable baking clay and makeup design. Shunt community now numbers 55 religious families and community will soon begin construction of private homes. In the first stage, which should start in the coming weeks will be built 60 units, when the entire final project will include 300 residential units. Gush Etzion Council noted that the past year has been a leader in the Regional Council population growth stood at 4.1%, and the regional council expect to double this number in the coming years.