Princeton Studies in Muslim Politics Dale F. Eickelman and Augustus Richard Norton, Editors Diane Singerman, Avenues of Participation: Family, Politics, and Networks in Urban Quarters of Cairo Tone Bringa, Being Muslim the Bosnian Way: Identity and Community in a Central Bosnian Village Dale F. Eickelman and James Piscatori, Muslim Politics Bruce B. Lawrence, Shattering the Myth: Islam beyond Violence Ziba Mir-Hosseini, Islam and Gender: The Religious Debate in Contemporary Iran Robert W. Hefner, Civil Islam: Muslims and Democratization in Indonesia Muhammad Qasim Zaman, The Ulama in Contemporary Islam: Custodians of Change Michael G. Peletz, Islamic Modern: Religious Courts and Cultural Politics in Malaysia Oskar Verkaaik, Migrants and Militants: Fun, Islam, and Urban Violence in Pakistan Laetitia Bucaille, Growing up Palestinian: Israeli Occupation and the Intifada Generation Robert W. Hefner, editor, Remaking Muslim Politics: Pluralism, Contestation, Democratization Lara Deeb, An Enchanted Modern: Gender and Public Piety in Shiʿi Lebanon Roxanne L. Euben, Journeys to the Other Shore: Muslim and Western Travelers in Search of Knowledge Loren D. Lybarger, Identity and Religion in Palestine: The Struggle between Islamism and Secularism in the Occupied Territories Robert W. Hefner and Muhammad Qasim Zaman, eds., Schooling Islam: The Culture and Politics of Modern Muslim Education Augustus Richard Norton, Hezbollah: A Short History Loren D. Lybarger, Identity and Religion in Palestine: The Struggle between Islamism and Secularism in the Occupied Territories Bruce K. Rutherford, Egypt after Mubarak: Liberalism, Islam, and Democracy in the Arab World HEZBOLLAH A Short History With a new afterword by the author Augustus Richard Norton PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS PRINCETON AND OXFORD Copyright © 2007 by Princeton University Press Published by Princeton University Press, 41 William Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 In the United Kingdom: Princeton University Press, 6 Oxford Street, Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1TW All Rights Reserved First printing, 2007 Fifth printing, and first paperback printing, with a new afterword by the author, 2009 New paperback edition, with a new prologue and afterword by the author, 2014 Paperback ISBN: 978-0-691-16081-8 Library of Congress Control Number 2013957455 British Library Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available This book has been composed in Goudy and Avant Garde Printed on acid-free paper. ∞ press.princeton.edu Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Contents Prologue to the New Paperback Edition vii Prologue 1 Chapter 1 Origins and Prehistory of Hezbollah 9 The Rise of Shiʿi Politics from the Mid-twentieth Century to the 14 Lebanese Civil War The Role of Musa al-Sadr 18 The Resurgence of Amal 21 Chapter 2 The Founding of Hezbollah 27 The Iraq Connection 30 The 1982 Israeli Invasion 32 Hezbollah Emerges 34 The Hezbollah Worldview 35 Implementing the Design 41 Chapter 3 Being a Shi`i Muslim in the Twenty-first Century 47 Ritual and Identity 51 The Intersection of Ritual and Politics 58 Chapter 4 Resistance, Terrorism, and Violence in Lebanon 69 Hezbollah and Terrorism 75 Occupation in Southern Lebanon 79 The “Rules of the Game” 83 The 2000 Israeli Withdrawal 88 Chapter 5 Playing Politics 95 Hezbollah’s Decision to Participate 98 Municipal Elections 103 The Revolt of the Hungry 105 The Rich Texture of Shi”i Institutions 107 Chapter 6 From Celebration to War 113 The Changing Social Tapestry in Post–Civil War Lebanon 120 Lebanon’s Love-Hate Relationship with Rafiq al-Hariri, and His 124 Assassination Setting the Stage for War 132 The Start of Hostilities, July 2006 135 Prosecuting the War 137 145 Conclusion