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Arabs divided on Hezbollah over Israel

By DONNA ABU-NASR, Associated Press Writer

BEIRUT, Lebanon - When Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon six years ago, the Arab world showered Hezbollah with praise. Today, Arabs are deeply divided about the guerrilla group, with many vilifying it for provoking Israel's attack on Lebanon.

Backers, however, voice pride in Hezbollah's ability to fight back, landing missiles from its Iranian-supplied arsenal deep inside Israel.

The division springs from a reality that did not exist six years ago — the rise to power of Shiites in Iraq and increasing tension between Shiites and Sunnis.

In 2000, Hezbollah was held up by fellow Shiites as well as Sunnis and some Christians as a model for resisting Israel.

Arabs on the whole have felt a historic frustration over their inability to defeat Israel. Hezbollah's missile strikes deep inside Israel generate pride because they inflicted pain on an opponent with clear military superiority.

There is also a general reluctance among Arabs to criticize Hezbollah for fear of appearing to side with Israel.

Hezbollah and its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, represent "what is left of honor and dignity in times of submission," Sajed al-Abdali, a Kuwaiti and Sunni Islamist, wrote in a column Tuesday in Al-Rai Al-Amm newspaper.

Al-Abdali said "the cowards" who disapprove of Hezbollah should "just stay silent."

In Iraq, despite the raging sectarian conflict, Sunni university professor Mohammed Kanan al-Obeidi called Nasrallah "a remarkable leader in our time although he has links with Iran."

"By striking Israel, he has restored the glories of the old Muslims," said the 40-year-old al-Obeidi.

The Sunni minority in Iraq, which ran the country when Saddam was in power, is deeply suspicious of the majority Shiites now in power, fearing they will be puppets of Iran — a Persian nation that is overwhelmingly Shiite and run by a theocracy.

In Bahrain, Sunnis and Shiites set aside their differences to march in protest of Israel's attacks on Lebanon, waving placards emblazoned with Nasrallah's face.

"Beloved Nasrallah, hit Tel Aviv!" chanted the crowd, estimated at around 10,000 people.

But in Jordan, housewife Layla Nasser said Nasrallah's men acted with folly when they crossed into Israel and captured two soldiers, igniting the current conflict.

"He reminds me of Saddam Hussein, who dragged Iraq into several similar adventures which have led to the complete destruction of Iraq," she said.

"Nasrallah has done the same and is the cause of Lebanon's destruction," she added. "He is arrogant and irresponsible."

Munching on a salad at a Beirut restaurant, Lina, a Shiite banker who declined to give her last name for fear of Hezbollah retaliation, said the group had no right to drag the nation into war.

"In 2000, I supported it because it was a real resistance," she said. "But now I don't, and I don't see any heroism in what it's done so far."

Henry Kairouz, a 48-year-old businessman, said Hezbollah's actions were "cowardly."

"If Hezbollah considers itself a player in Lebanese politics and the government, why didn't it hand over the hostages to the Lebanese government to negotiate their fate?" he asked.

Hezbollah's political strength in Lebanon threatens the government's hold on power; its military power has made it impossible for the government and army to take control of the south.

Some Arabs who oppose Hezbollah say they feel torn when they see the damage and loss of life resulting from Israel's offensive.

In Dubai, Gilbert Gholam, 31, a Lebanese telecommunications worker, said he had no admiration for Hezbollah or its attacks. But Gholam said he was appalled by Israel's response and the lack of a global outcry.

"The Israelis aren't hurting Hezbollah. They're killing civilians and they are destroying Lebanon," Gholam said.

Mahmoud Ahmed, a 30-year-old Egyptian worker for a cable TV provider in Dubai, declared a pox on both Israel and Hezbollah.

"I disagree with both sides," Ahmed said, puffing on a cigarette. "They're killing innocent people. Who can agree with this?"

And Qenan al-Ghamdi, a columnist for the Saudi Al-Watan daily, said Hezbollah cannot stop the fight because it does not have the final say.

Many believe Syria and Iran, Hezbollah's sponsors, have a hand in Hezbollah's operation.

"Had Hezbollah been taking decisions on its own, it wouldn't have committed this stupidity," said al-Ghamdi. "It has lost the support it had. Today, it's facing a big catastrophe and it has dragged Lebanon into a bigger one."

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