World Tribune.com
Blanchard

Well-funded Hizubullah on a roll in Palestinian territories

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."

Print this Article Print this Article Email this article Email this article Subscribe to this Feature Free Headline Alerts