Hizbullah's Documents : From the 1985 Open Letter to the 2009 Manifesto

Despite the controversial reputation of Hizbullah in the West, and the significant role this powerful Islamist organization plays in Lebanese politics, there are few reliable, published English translations of the party’s primary documents. With this extensive work, Joseph Alagha seeks to remedy this problem and rectify the distortions and misrepresentations that have resulted from inaccurate translations. Through privileged access to the party, Alagha was able to compile and meticulously translate a host of original primary documents, from the party’s 1985 Open Letter; through its eight clandestine conclaves from 1989 to 2009; to all of its election programs from 1992 to 2010, as well as all of the agreements, understandings, and pacts the party has ratified over the years; ending with the 2009 Political Manifesto. This firsthand portrait of Hizbullah’s metamorphosis, especially in the past decade, is complete with thorough footnotes, commentary, background information, chronology, and a detailed introductory chapter that maps the party’s transformation by analytically comparing the Open Letter with the 2009 Manifesto. This volume will be an invaluable companion for both scholars and policy makers. A Note on Transliteration......Page 10 Prologue......Page 12 Abstract......Page 14 1 The Salient Points of the Open Letter......Page 16 2 Hizbullah’s Eight Conclaves......Page 23 3 Analysis of the New Manifesto......Page 30 4 Thematic Analysis......Page 32 5 Conclusion......Page 37 1 The Text of Hizbullah’s Open Letter1 Addressed to the Oppressed in Lebanon and the World, 16 February 1985......Page 40 2 Hizbullah: Views and Concepts, Manar TV, Beirut, 20 June 199749......Page 57 3 Statement of Purpose: Hizbullah Press Office, 20 March 199850......Page 60 4 Hizbullah: Identity and Goals51 (August 2004)......Page 61 1 Hizbullah’s 1992 Parliamentary Elections Program1 (my translation)......Page 64 2 Hizbullah’s 1996 Parliamentary Elections Program12......Page 70 3 Hizbullah’s 2000 Parliamentary Elections Program19 (my translation)......Page 76 4 Hizbullah’s 2004 Municipal Election Program26 (my translation)......Page 82 5 Hizbullah’s 2005 Parliamentary Elections Program46 (my translation)......Page 89 6 Hizbullah’s 2009 Legislative Election Program: 6 April 200947......Page 90 7 Nasrallah’s Post-elections Press Conference: 8 June 200948......Page 98 1 Paper of Common Understanding between Hizbullah and The Free Patriotic Movement:1 6 February 2006......Page 106 2 The Beirut Declaration: 15 May 2008......Page 111 3 Doha Accord: 21 May 2008......Page 112 4 Hizbullah’s Understanding with the Salafi Movement: 18 August 20082......Page 113 5 President al-Assad Issues a Decree Stipulating the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Lebanon: 14 October 2008......Page 114 4 The New Manifesto (30 November 2009)1......Page 116 1 Hegemony and Mobilization......Page 119 2 Lebanon......Page 123 3 Palestine & The Settlement Negotiations......Page 134 4 Nasrallah’s Press Conference: 30 November 2009 (in full)9......Page 139 Chronology of Events (1975-2010)......Page 152 List of Abbreviations......Page 186 Glossary......Page 188 Notes......Page 194

This book-series, initiated in 1992, has an interdisciplinary orientation; it is published in English and German and comprises research monographs, collections of essays and editions of source texts dealing with German-Jewish literary and cultural history, in particular from the period covering the 18th to 20th centuries.

The closer definition of the term German-Jewish applied to literature and culture is an integral part of its historical development. Primarily, the decisive factor is that from the middle of the 18th century German gradually became the language of choice for Jews, and Jewish authors started writing in German, rather than Yiddish or Hebrew, even when they were articulating Jewish themes. This process is directly connected an historical change in mentality and social factors which led to a gradual opening towards a non-Jewish environment, which in its turn was becoming more open. In the Enlightenment, German society becomes the standard of reference – initially for an intellectual elite. Against this background, the term German-Jewish literature refers to the literary work of Jewish authors writing in German to the extent that explicit or implicit Jewish themes, motifs, modes of thought or models can be identified in them.
From the beginning of the 19th century at the latest, however, the image of Jews in the work of non-Jewish writers, determined mainly by anti-Semitism, becomes a factor in German-Jewish literature. There is a tension between Jewish writers' authentic reference to Jewish traditions or existence and the anti-Semitic marking and discrimination against everything Jewish which determines the overall development of the history of German-Jewish literature and culture. This series provides an appropriate forum for research into the whole problematic area.

As the dominant political force in Lebanon and one of the most powerful post-Islamist organizations in the world, Hizbullah is a source of great controversy and uncertainty in the West. Despite the significant attention paid to this group by the media, the details of Hizbullah's evolution have frequently confounded politicians-and even scholars. In this important study, Joseph Alagha, a scholar with unprecedented access to the organization, exhaustively and objectively analyzes Hizbullah's historical evolution and offers a revolutionary new perspective on the political phenomenon of the organization. Hizbullah's Identity Construction is a timely examination of one of the world's most turbulent regions; a major contribution to the study of contemporary Islamic political movements in the Middle East; and a refreshing departure from the bland hagiographies and ad hominem attacks that are all too common in studies of Hizbullah's murky history. Superbly documented and argued, and rooted in broad knowledge of contemporary Islamist political thought, this study brings much-needed clarity to a hot-button subject. "Joseph Alagha remains one of the most thorough and careful analysts of Hizbullah's political ideology and practice. Scholars, analysts, and policy makers will find in this work a veritable treasure trove of research and insights into this complex organization."--Michaelle Browers, Wake Forest University As the dominant political force in Lebanon and one of the most powerful post-Islamist organizations in the world, Hizbullah is a source of great controversy and uncertainty in the West. Despite the significant attention paid to this group by the media, the details of Hizbullah's evolution have frequently confounded politicians' and even scholars. In this important study, Joseph Alagha, a scholar with unprecedented access to the organization, exhaustively and objectively analyzes Hizbullah's historical evolution and offers a revolutionary new perspective on the political phenomenon of the organization. Hizbullah's Identity Construction is a timely examination of one of the world's most turbulent regions; a major contribution to the study of contemporary Islamic political movements in the Middle East; and a refreshing departure from the bland hagiographies and ad hominem attacks that are all too common in studies of Hizbullah's murky history. Superbly documented and argued, and rooted in broad knowledge of contemporary Islamist political thought, this study brings much-needed clarity to a hot-button subject. Joseph Alagha remains one of the most thorough and careful analysts of Hizbullah's political ideology and practice. Scholars, analysts, and policy makers will find in this work a veritable treasure trove of research and insights into this complex organization Introduction and analytical framework Tolerance and discrimination: Ahl Al-Dhimma in the Islamic Order Interpretation and authority: Wilayat Al-Faqih Politcal violence: terrorism and 9/11 Political violence: suicide operations From cooptation to contestation to politcal power The Doha 2008 Accord and its aftermath The eighth conclave: a new manifesto (November 2009) Epilogue: Future Prospects-Disarmament and the peace process. Compilation And Translation Into English Of The Original Primary Documents In Arabic. A Note On Transliteration; Prologue; Abstract; Introduction; 1 Primary Documents; 2 Election Programs; 3 Agreements, Understandings, Pacts; 4 The New Manifesto (30 November 2009)1; Chronology Of Events (1975-2010); List Of Abbreviations; Glossary; Notes. Joseph Alagha. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The important study Hizbullah's Identity Construction offers a revolutionary new perspective on the political phenomenon of Hizbullah, whose evolution has frequently confounded scholars and politicians. Drawing on field research and his unparalleled access to primary sources, Alagha has produced a unique work which traces all the shifts in Hizbullah's construction and reconstruction of its identity "The important study [title] offers a revolutionary new perspective on the political phenomenon of Hizbullah whose evolution has frequently confounded scholars and politicians. Drawing on his unparalleled access to primary sources, Alagha has produced a unique work which traces all the shifts in Hizbullah's construction and reconstruction of its identity."--Publisher's site. A reliable reference work that includes accurate English translations of Hizbullah's primary documents with adequate commentaries and relevant background information that spans three decades. Joseph Alagha, is associate professor of Islamic studies at Radboud University Nijmegen and author of The Shifts in Hizbullah's Ideology (Amsterdam University Press, 2006)

A reliable reference work that includes accurate English translations of Hizbullah's primary documents with adequate commentaries and relevant background information that spans three decades.