Sources label Hezbollah a key intefadeh player

By Ravi Nessman
The Associated Press

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive

The Iranian-backed group, based in Lebanon, earned a foothold in the 3-1/2-year-old Palestinian uprising by giving money to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, ideological allies that also seek the destruction of Israel.

In recent months, it has pulled off something akin to a hostile takeover of cells of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, wrenching them away from Yasser Arafat's secular Fatah movement and turning them into a proxy army.

Al Aqsa members in the West Bank city of Nablus said they speak with Hezbollah handlers by phone almost daily. Israeli security officials said Hezbollah trains some Palestinian militants abroad, instructing them in weapons and bomb-making.

Hezbollah does not seem to be issuing specific instructions about targets or timing. One Al Aqsa member said his Hezbollah contact urges him to carry out attacks whenever the opportunity arises, in "any way possible."

Israeli officials said Hezbollah helps coordinate joint shootings and bombings by the three Palestinian militant groups and has been trying to spur Israel's Arab citizens — who have mostly stayed out of the uprising — to join in.

Hezbollah doesn't elaborate on what support it gives but after the assassination of Hamas founder Sheik Ahmed Yassin in March, it promised to do whatever possible to help Hamas exact revenge.

A senior Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described Hezbollah's involvement in the Palestinian intefadeh, or uprising, as "immense."

"They are all over the place and they give a lot of money," the official said.

Many Palestinians admire Hezbollah, crediting its 18-year guerrilla war with forcing Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon in 2000. It's a model Palestinian militants would like to emulate.

In Lebanon, Hezbollah, meaning "Party of God," is seen not only as a militant group but as an influential and legitimate political force, with schools, clinics, a TV station and members in Parliament.
 
Hezbollah launches occasional attacks on Israel over a minor border dispute, but the issue inspires little passion. Its search for new relevance has led it to the Palestinians, said Ibrahim Bayram, an analyst with Lebanon's An-Nahar daily. "Whether here or in Palestine, Hezbollah considers resisting the Israeli occupation to be part of its own struggle," he said.

Supporting Palestinian militants from afar also allows Hezbollah to keep in good standing with its own backers, Iran and Syria, two fervent enemies of Israel, said Shlomo Brom, a former senior officer in Israeli military intelligence.

"This way, they can continue operating against Israel without really paying a price," Brom said.

Money is often funneled to the militants through money-changers, bank transfers and couriers coming in from abroad, Israeli officials said.

A high-level Palestinian security source said the Hezbollah money goes to a few dozen Palestinians involved in planning attacks.

The Shin Bet, Israel's security service, said Hezbollah paid for several fatal attacks, including a double suicide bombing on Jan. 5, 2003, that killed 23 people and an April 24, 2003, bombing at the Kfar Saba train station that killed one.

"We are receiving funding from Hezbollah because we have no other option," said a Nablus Al Aqsa leader who goes by the name Abu Mujahed.

Many Al Aqsa militants are furious with Fatah and feel let down by its leaders. Abu Mujahed called them "a disgrace," adding, "Fatah is not supporting the Al Aqsa Brigades. Without other support, we would not have survived so far."

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company