Well-funded Hizubullah on a roll
in Palestinian territories
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By Steve Rodan, Middle East Newsline
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Friday, August 3, 2001
RAMALLAH Ñ Last year, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat blasted
Hizbullah as part of an Iranian plot to destabilize the regime.
Today, Arafat has embraced Hizbullah as his strategic partner amid a
debate within the Palestinian leadership regarding the future of the war
with Israel.
Palestinian sources said Arafat has allowed Hizbullah a free hand in the
West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Authority chairman has granted
Hizbullah permission to open offices in major cities and hold rallies.
The result is that Hizbullah has become the fastest-growing movement in
the West Bank. Palestinian sources said the Lebanese-based Shi'ite group is
believed to have thousands of activists and enjoys huge support among
Palestinians.
"They basically can do what any other recognized Palestinian movement is
allowed to do," a senior Palestinian source said. "The difference is that
Hizbullah has plenty of money and enjoys tremendous popularity among
ordinary Palestinians."
The leaders of Hizbullah chapters, the sources said, are former members
of Arafat's Fatah movement. The chapters also include former members of the
Islamic opposition Hamas movement.
The Beirut-based Hizbullah is believed to have provided weapons and
explosives for attacks against Israel. But the Hizbullah in Palestinian
areas
has not claimed direct involvement in these attacks.
Hizbullah's prominence was seen at Wednesday's funeral of two Hamas
leaders assassinated by Israel in the West Bank city of Nablus. Hizbullah
marched in the procession, displaying huge banners. Scores of members were
seen marching with the Hizbullah trademark, a headband with the martyr
inscription.
Palestinian sources said Hizbullah has opened chapters in such cities as
Bethlehem, Gaza, Hebron, Nablus and Jenin. The group is said to be
particularly strong in Jenin and the northern West Bank.
Until last year, Arafat was dismissive of Lebanon. But his attitude
changed when Israel withdrew from Lebanon in May 2000, a move Arafat
attributed to the Hizbullah guerrilla campaign.
From then on, the sources said, Arafat regarded Hizbullah as a model for
the Palestinian struggle against Israel. He sent at least one security aide
to Lebanon for training by Hizbullah, which prompted weapons shipments from
Lebanon to Gaza.
Hizbullah has also been given privileges reserved for allies of Arafat.
Hizbullah's Al Manar television channel has a correspondent in Gaza City.
The channel, regarded as far more popular than official PA television, was
allowed to broadcast live from the Nablus funeral of the assassinated Hamas
leaders.
The sources said Arafat remains wary of Hizbullah and believes that the
Iranian-backed movement does not share the loyalties of Palestinian
opposition groups. But the PA leader has concluded that Hizbullah is too
powerful with money and support for it to be opposed amid the erosion of
the PA.
"The PA is hardly felt in many areas of the West Bank," a PA official
said. "Instead, Palestinian movements such as Fatah, Hamas and Jihad have
taken over. This is where Hizbullah has been successful."
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