Hezbollah’s History and Objectives

• Background of Hezbollah

• Creation of Shi’ism

• Sunni vs Shi’ite ideology

• Amal

• Who created and why

Hezbollah’s Split from Amal• When and why• 1982 Israeli

Occupation

Doctrine

• Anti-Western ideology• Resistance to

the Israeli invasion

• Shi’ite oppression by Sunni’s

The Open Letter 1985

Three main Objectives•End Colonialism•Prosecute group committing crimes against Muslims and Christians (i.e. Sunnis)•Establishment of an Islamic Government

New Manifesto

2009Updated the Objectives of The Open Letter

•Rhetoric less aggressive in nature• Undertone of

violence

Turning Point

1992 Elections•Choice for Hezbollah• Violence or Politics• Violence not

working• Politics

Pragmatic solution to achieving goals

Recap

• Hezbollah developed out of Amal• Ideology

• Anti-Western (including Israel), anti-Sunni• Objectives

• 1985 Open Letter• 2009 Manifesto

• Turning Point• 1992 Elections• Developed into a Politically active entity

• Provides social services to Shi’ite’s

Hezbollah's Open Letter