Is Hezbollah a terrorist organization or are they considered such because they are a threat?

Question

Hezbollah offers insurance, health care, schools, protection, and so much more to the people of Lebanon. Why is it that they are considered terrorists? They seem more like Lebanons governement and military more than anything.

Answer 1

Only six countries(this includes America) in the world consider Hezbollah a terrorism organization. The other 190+ countries in the world(most of the EU included) do not.

This stance by America has to do with Israel's Lobby.

http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n06/mear01_.html

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060814/aipacs_hold


"Hezbollah has denounced some acts of terror but not others: it condemned the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, but not the attack on the Pentagon.[102] It denounced Armed Islamic Group massacres in Algeria, Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya attacks on tourists in Egypt[103], and the murder of Nick Berg[104]. However, it expresses support and sympathy[105] for the activities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Islamist groups responsible for suicide attacks and armed resistance in Israel and the Palestinian territories."

Answer 2

An organization is usually called "terrorist" if it is an organization that is without an identifiable state . Hezbollah is not truly associated with any state although it has ties in Lebanon. It is not an official part of Lebanon. It does as you say, provide health care and schools, for the people of southern Lebanon but it is not recognized as Lebanese. The other part of Hezbollah that probably makes it terrorist is its advocacy of violence against civilians as means to destabilize governments and achieve political ends, in this case the overthrow of Israel and the establishment of Muslim states wherever they do not exist.

Answer 3

They are not a terrorist organization..If ppl would think of it twice they'd know what is Hizbollah trying to do...Its onlytrying to make the middle east a better place for all and also I agree with u when u said They seem more like Lebanons governement and military more than anything.

God Help Lebanon!!

Answer 4

Hezbollah is a group that formed during the Isreali occupation of Lebanon. Isreal pulled out of Lebanon years ago, but this extremist group still remains. It's so contradictory because their bombs have invited the return of Isreali occupation.

Where do you get your information that Hezbollah offers all these social services?

Answer 5

Not all countries consider Hezbollah to be a terrorist organisation (I believe Belgium doesn't) - and the EU makes a distinction between the political and military wings of the organisation. I believe this is true for Hamas as well.

Answer 6

The Hezbollah are not terrorist by all means:
They never did an act out side the war zone
They are fighting Israeli occupation

Answer 7

Hezbollah does not have consent of the Lebanese people to fight for them, where as the Israeli military does have the consent of its citizenry to fight on their behalf. So we cannot look at Hezbollah as an extension of the Lebanese government's will or that of the people Lebanon. So it would be erroneous, just on those grounds alone, to call them a military.

The line of demarcation between a terrorist entity and a legitimate military is the intent each has behind a particular act of aggression. Hezbollah, and other groups similar to it, target civilians instead of the military and heads of state of opposing governments. It is this focus on noncombatants that causes the global community to deem them terrorists. While in many cases formal militaries like the Israeli army and U.S. army conduct operations that inadvertently kill civilians, they don’t aim for a specific civilian death toll, and in fact try to avoid it at all costs; unless absolutely necessary.

Lets make a small comparison between Israel and Hezbollah to illustrate the difference between a terrorist organization and a legitimate military. Hezbollah kidnaps two Israel soldiers, and out of retaliation, Israel starts to bomb Hezbollah targets. Hezbollah purposely situates their offices in densely populated Lebanese towns and neighborhoods, thus they are using the people they are supposedly defending as human shields. Hezbollah in retaliation to these bombings are launching rockets directly at Israeli residential areas, which are nowhere near where the Israeli army is basing there offensive from. Furthermore, when Israel is embarking on a major bombing campaign, they drop leaflets and other forms of warning to Lebanese civilians to vacate the premises that is to be bombed. Hezbollah DOES NOT reciprocate this humane warning for the Israeli citizens they are attacking. Now tell me who is the true terrorist entity?

Can Hezbollah be white washed of its sins because it is involved in charity work, insurance, schooling and the construction of hospitals? I don’t think so. After all, the Mafia has been reputed for contributing to charities, churches, and hospitals, yet we still categorize them as a criminal enterprise despite their acts of benevolence. How one goes about achieving ones goal factors in greatly as to how the public at large will define you. If you seek to shape public policy by specifically attacking those who are not involved in public policy or in the militant enforcement of that policy, you are a terrorist. If, conversely, you seek to destroy just those heads of state, or heads of an organization, and the operatives who attacked you, you are a true military trying to defend your people. That is why Hezbollah is recognized as a terrorist entity.

Answer 8

They are considered terrorists because they also are involved in suicide bombings and kidnapping of people for no reason. They also have as one of their avowed goals the destruction of Israel by any means. You are a terrorist if you meet those criteria, no matter what else you may do to try to improve your reputation.

Answer 9

Hezbollah is only helping the lebanons in that way to gain their support. their ultimate goal is to take out isreal completely, there is no comprimise with them, its all or nothing. they are trying to make themselves look like the good guy when in all actuality they are not. it is kind of like the religious leaders in iraq, supposedly fighting for a good cause when really they are not.

Answer 10

Lebanon is not allowed to have a military.
It's a matter of propaganda.
Look past the headlines and think for yourself!