The history of Hezbollah in Lebanon is a complex and multifaceted subject that has been analyzed by Arab historians and commentators from various perspectives. Here's a summary of key points:
- **Origins**: Hezbollah, which means "Party of God" in Arabic, originated within the Shiite block of Lebanese society. Shiites comprise a significant portion of Lebanon's population and predominate in areas such as Southern Lebanon, Beirut and its environs, and the northern Beqaa valley region².
- **Lebanese National Pact**: Lebanon gained its independence on November 22, 1943, and the Lebanese National Pact became the framework for governance. This pact led to the allocation of political privileges to each of the recognized sectarian communities based on their size. The presidency was given to the Maronites, the premiership to the Sunnis, and the speakership of the parliament to the Shia, recognizing them as the third largest demographic group².
- **Marginalization of Shia**: Despite their significant numbers, the Shia community remained politically, socially, and financially marginalized. Areas in Southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley, where many Shiites lived, were long neglected by the Lebanese state².
- **Rise of Musa al-Sadr**: The seminal Shi'i leader Musa al-Sadr, who disappeared in 1978, played a crucial role in the prehistory of Hezbollah. He is depicted alongside Hasan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah since 1992, on billboards in southern Lebanon¹.
- **Israeli Invasion and Resistance**: Hezbollah was established by Lebanese clerics primarily to fight the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon. It adopted the model set out by Ayatollah Khomeini after the Iranian Revolution in 1979⁴. Hezbollah began as a resistance movement formed to defy the Israeli occupation of South Lebanon and retained its arsenal of weapons after Israel withdrew in 2000⁵.
The perspectives of Arab historians and commentators on Hezbollah are diverse and often reflect the broader geopolitical and sectarian dynamics of the region. Some view Hezbollah as a legitimate resistance movement against foreign occupation, while others see it as a destabilizing force in Lebanese and regional politics. The organization's role in Lebanese society and politics has evolved significantly since its inception, and it continues to be a subject of debate and analysis.
Source: Conversation with Copilot, 30/06/2024
(1) History of Hezbollah - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Hezbollah.
(2) Origins and Prehistory of Hezbollah - Princeton University. http://assets.press.princeton.edu/chapters/s8363.pdf.
(3) Hezbollah - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hezbollah.
(4) Why Hezbollah matters so much in a turbulent Middle East. https://theconversation.com/why-hezbollah-matters-so-much-in-a-turbulent-middle-east-88111.
(5) A History of Hezbollah Transcript - Throughline. https://podcasts.musixmatch.com/podcast/throughline-01gzph4h0ggjcxc9629nkyb003/episode/a-history-of-hezbollah-01ht23yesycbntqwy07c8ettgm.
