Sunni Muslims Standing in Unity with Shiite Hezbollah

The Jamestown Foundation Terrorism Focus Journal ^ | 8-6-2006 | Chris Zambelis

[ProudRedStateRedNeck]

Sunni Muslims Standing in Unity with Shiite Hezbollah

By Chris Zambelis

The latest crisis in the Middle East involving Hezbollah and Israel and ongoing sectarian violence in Iraq has focused attention on an emerging divide between Sunnis and Shiites. The positions of heads of state in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Pakistan, among others, who represent predominantly Sunni populations, in not taking a stronger stance in opposing Israel lends credence to the theory that Sunnis are tacitly siding with Israel against Hezbollah in order to check Shiite and, by extension, Iranian influence. In reality, the opposite is the case. Regional capitals and major cities in predominantly Sunni countries have been the scene of regular protests and other forms of dissent in what has been an upsurge of popular support for Hezbollah. In a recent demonstration in Cairo's downtown Tahrir Square, protestors chanted: "with our soul and blood we support you Lebanon…oh beloved Nasrallah, hit, hit Tel Aviv" and "long live the Lebanese resistance…long live the Palestinian resistance…long live the Iraqi resistance" (al-Osboa, August 6).

Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's general secretary, is being touted as an Arab nationalist hero on par with Gamal Abdel Nasser. For others, he represents a positive and proud symbol of Muslim resistance. Ayman al-Zawahiri's July 27 statement reflects this trend and represents an effort on the part of al-Qaeda to exploit the current crisis for its benefit (Terrorism Focus, August 1). On August 3, Mohammed Mahdi Akef, spiritual leader of Egypt's banned Muslim Brotherhood, issued a statement expressing solidarity with Hezbollah and the Lebanese people and offered to send 10,000 men to fight in Lebanon (http://www.ikhwanonline.com). An opinion piece in an independent opposition Egyptian daily called on Cairo to freeze its commitments to the Camp David peace agreement with Israel and to cut relations with Tel Aviv immediately (al-Masry al-Youm, August 5). Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a leading Egyptian Sunni scholar based in Qatar, also praised Hezbollah's resistance and called for Sunni and Shiite unity. He condemned the Saudi position calling on Sunnis to refrain from supporting Hezbollah and chastised Arab regimes for their weakness (http://www.qaradawi.net). Amr Khaled, an influential Egyptian preacher popular among youth, also issued statements staunchly critical of Israeli attacks against fellow Muslims and all Lebanese (http://www.amrkhaled.net).

The Jordanian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood issued a statement on July 30 on its website declaring its support for what it described as the "mujahideen from Hezbollah," proclaiming that supporting Hezbollah constitutes a "duty" for all Muslims (http://www.ikhwan-jor.org). The Syrian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood issued a statement on July 15 calling on "all of the sons" of the Arab and Muslim nation to unite and stand in solidarity against Israel and its supporters (http://www.jimsyr.com). Pakistan's Jamaat-e-Islami is staging demonstrations calling for Muslim unity in the face of what it describes as a U.S.- and Israeli-led war against Islam that is happening with Islamabad's support (http://www.jamaat.org). There is evidence that the escalating violence and U.S. support for Israel's invasion of Lebanon and ongoing crackdown in Gaza is encouraging Afghanis to join the Taliban insurgency (Institute for War & Peace Reporting, August 3). While the Taliban and other Sunni extremists see Shiites as heretics, this demonstrates how an overarching sense of Muslim identity and solidarity for a common cause can transcend sectarian and ideological differences.

Hezbollah threatens incumbent authoritarian regimes in the region because of its ability to inspire popular dissent. Its successful struggle against Israeli occupation in the past and impressive showing in the latest crisis has galvanized Arabs and Muslims everywhere. While leaders in Cairo, Riyadh, Amman and Islamabad are locally seen as oppressive and corrupt U.S. clients, Hezbollah is giving Sunnis and Shiites hope. The timing of the kidnapping of the Israeli soldiers also came against the backdrop of Israel's siege of Gaza, indicating that it was meant to force Israel to fight on two fronts so as to decrease pressure on the Palestinians. This, of course, occurred while Arab and Muslim states stood idle, making Hezbollah look all the more heroic. A reluctance to support Hezbollah persists in some circles, especially centers of Sunni extremism such as Saudi Arabia. Yet the trajectory of the current trend is likely to encourage further Sunni-Shiite unity in the face of what is increasingly being perceived as a U.S. and Israeli war against Islam.

[ProudRedStateRedNeck]

So much for divide and rule.

[OPS4]

So much for the Moslems, we hear are on our side.
Ops4

[EagleUSA]

So much for the Moslems, we hear are on our side.
-----
They are on the side of the Koran and Mohammed...not on the side of freedom and democracy, which is diametric to the tenets of Islam...

[muawiyah]

If you could do a survey of the man in the street throughout the Arab speaking Islamic world you'd find they pretty universally despise their ruling class.

That's not new, and in fact, if you got to know the ruling class you'd hate them too.

Hezbollah, though, represents a segment of that ruling class ~ the mullahs who rule Iran.

Arabic speaking people hate them too.

[saganite]

Israel should go ahead with a full out assault on Hezbollah and finish this before it gets out of hand. The dithering among the Israeli leadership is maddening. What are they thinking, authorizing a full scale invasion of Southern Lebanon and in the same breath saying they will withhold implementing it? This sounds an awful lot like Johnson's policy of "sending a message" to the enemy in Vietnam. You don't "communicate" with the enemy on the battlefield. You destroy them!

[American in Israel]

So much for moderate Islam. It simply does not exist. All Muslims are enemies of the State and should be deported immediatly.

[Publius6961]

The umma is one.
It is always referred to as the "islam nation".
Tribal and primitive links are most important.

It's islam against the world.
Just because they keep telling us is no reason to believe it's true!

[RobbyS]

So much more reason for Israel to go all out to crush Hezbollah. It worked against Nasser.

[MarkT]

The only way Israel can ever lose - and by that I mean, wiped off the face of the earth as a country - is a deadly numbers contest. If the Muslims can afford and are willing to do a 10 for 1 death rate, the Muslims will "spend" about 70 million to kill off the approximately 7 million Israelis.

Heretofore, the Muslims have been sufficiently divided to insure that Israel would be able to stave off any attacks by one or a few of its neighbors. But if the Ragheads ever really unite, then Israel, just prior to its anihilation, will nuke Damascus and Tehran. Its an ugly outlook.

[OPS4]

Yeah the Millions we see burning our flag on the news everyday, and the killing of Christians by the tens of thousands realy shows me how much they like us over thier leadership.

I for one have realized The Moslem cause is violent.
The nimbers of people blowing themselves up to kill our Soldiers in Iraq shows me the common man is as much a threat as the leadership.

Wakeup all ready.
Ops4

[sheik yerbouty]

Sunna or later, Shi'ite happens. Neither can be trusted.

[Yo-Yo]

What we have here is "The Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend" syndrome. Once the infidels are taken care of, the Shiite/Sunni violence will continue.

[muawiyah]

I gather the IDF and the Israeli government are not revealing everything to you.

[OPS4]

"What we have here is "The Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend" syndrome. Once the infidels are taken care of, the Shiite/Sunni violence will continue".

You are 100% Right On.

[muawiyah]

Doing what?

Now these guys were murdering Christians in Sudan in large numbers, but they've more recently turned to murdering Moslems. Do you have a problem with this?

[muawiyah]

There's also the element of a threat. If you suspect the Moslem nutcase down the street will murder you and your family you tend to keep your mouth shut.

Now, do Moslems suspect such things of their neighbors?

Most certainly!

'cause it's true.

[saganite]

Hopefully you're right. I wish BB were in charge.

There have been reports that the Israeli General Staff are divided and an overseer has been appointed to examine their work. Those are not the signs of strong leadership.

[OPS4]

Moslems have declared war on the Free World. I speak out to Moslems as well as anyone else who declares war on the USA, or myself, a Freeman.

I stand at the ready, for Freedom!
Ops4

[Perdogg]

Are the salifists now supporting Hisbollah? I don't consider secular baathist sunnis to be real islamists.

One also has to remember that Amal and Hisbollah (both shia groups - Hisbollah who are Khomanists) fought a war in the mid 80s called the "war of the camps". Is Amal now fighting with Hisbollah??

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