Middle East 101, Week XVI
Hezbollah and the Second Lebanon War
‼️ SCHEDULE CHANGE: Next week, May 12, we’ll be meeting two hours later than we usually do, at 18:30 pm Paris time as opposed to 16:30. We’ve rescheduled so that our guest, Michael Totten, can join us from Portland.
Reading
The Road to Fatima Gate: The Beirut Spring, the Rise of Hezbollah, and the Iranian War Against Israel, by Michael Totten. If you don’t usually come to class but you’re especially keen to hear what Michael has to say, this class open to everyone who’s read the book, but priority in the discussion goes to the students who’ve been attending every week.
If you have the time, you might find it interesting to watch this as you read the book. The director, Mai Masri, is a big deal among Palestinian filmmakers.
Please also read:
Primary documents (and commentary)
1985 “Open Letter”—Hezbollah’s original manifesto. You may prefer this translation. (The second one is abridged.) Like Hamas, Hezbollah subsequently published another manifesto without the Islamist rhetoric for the benefit of useful idiots at Columbia. If you have time, please also read, The “Rebirth” of Hizbollah: Analyzing the 2009 Manifesto.
Summary of the findings of the Winograd Commission: Final and Interim Reports
Books
34 Days: Israel, Hezbollah, and the War in Lebanon, by Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff. Here’s an online copy. (This is very short.)
Articles
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