Advice for Hezbollah: How to Win Over the Pro-West Opposition

Now that the pro-Western government in Lebanon has been “put in its place” by Hezbollah – and by extension Iran and Syria – what is Israel up against – and what narrative will the Islamists use to heal the wounds and consolidate their victory?

Yasser Al Zaatera of Palestine’s Samiddon newspaper outlines the likely approach.

Explaining why Lebanon’s Pro-West Sunni government is afraid of Hezbullah and Iran, Zaatera writes:

“The people of the Umma [the Muslim Nation] and in particular the Sunnis, are as captive as they are perplexed. On the one hand, they know that what’s happening in Lebanon is an integral part of the battle that the Americans and Israelis are waging against forces of resistance and opposition in the region. Meanwhile, they feel concern in regard to the Iranian project, which sometimes smells of [Sunni-Shiite] sectarianism, and at other times nationalism. This is clearly reflected in Iraq, where Iran insists on an Iraq that is its junior politically, economically and even culturally and religiously.”

Zaatera then apologetically explains why the Government of Fouad Siniora has tilted to the dark side – by choosing to work with the United States:

“No one can doubt the affection of Lebanese Sunnis for their homeland and the Umma. Nor can anyone doubt their differences with American-Zionist plans, which their long history demonstrates. All of which shows that the approval of groups and politicians that more-or-less agree with the Americans is only a reaction to the injustice suffered due to the assassination of Rafik Al Hariri, along with the fears mentioned previously, none of which implies a change in their overall political stance.”

In outlining what Hezbollah should do to win over those that now oppose it by showing that it doesn’t want to completely overturn Lebanon’s current political configuration, Zaatera writes:

“Which is why now is the time for Hezbollah to express policy positions sufficient to dispel Sunni fears that its objective [Hezbollah's objective] is to find a new Lebanese equilibrium … It’s especially important for Hezbollah to clarify its position now, because at the moment, fears of an Israeli invasion of Lebanon seems fairly distant, unless – Allah forbid – America decides to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities and Hezbollah insists on using Lebanon as part of the Iran-U.S. struggle.

By Yasser Al Zaatera

Translated by Nicolas Dagher

May 11, 2008

Palestine – Samidoon – Original Article (Arabic)

If not for the sectarian crowd that dominates the region, no one in the Arab and Muslim street would hesitate to support the Lebanese opposition and Hezbollah in the context of the current fighting in Lebanon. The masses of the Arab nation are accustomed to opposing any camp supported by the Americans and Israelis, regardless of which party it is. But this is even more true given America’s recent ugly policies, which are the antithesis of the Umma’s yearning for unity and liberation and the confirmation of its Arab and Muslim identity.

[Editor's Note: The author of this article - who appears to be a Hamas supporter, repeatedly refers to the "Umma." Some believe the Umma was originally conceived by the Prophet Muhammad. The term refers to the "Muslim nation," which is supposed to supersede the boundaries of nationalism. But in practice, it rarely has ].

Now the people of the Umma and in particular the Sunnis, are as captive as they are perplexed. On the one hand, they know that what’s happening in Lebanon is an integral part of the battle that the Americans and Israelis are waging against forces of resistance and opposition in the region. Meanwhile, they feel concern in regard to the Iranian project, which sometimes smells of [Sunni-Shiite] sectarianism, and at other times nationalism. This is clearly reflected in Iraq, where Iran insists on an Iraq that is its junior politically, economically and even culturally and religiously.

This [Iran's ties with Iraq] is not unlike the alliance between Iran and Hezbollah, along with the other alliance with Syria which has been imposed by the political situation.

But none of this [the involvement of wither Iran or Syria] should diminish the important achievements accomplished by Hezbollah in the context of the conflict in the region: the Umma’s struggle against its main enemy, which is the chief promoter of the American-Zionist project. It is a source of pride that Hezbollah is responsible for the two biggest victories in the history of this struggle: The May 2000 victory that drove the Zionists from Southern Lebanon and the July 2006 victory that the Zionist entity still suffers from and will continue to suffer from until it meets its end, Allah willing.

READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translated foreign press coverage of President Bush’s visit to Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and America’s involvement in the Middle East.