2013 Briefing Book - Print Version - Aipac

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SYRIA-LEBANON cities with house-to-house raids and civilian massacres. In October 2012, Hizballah officials admitted openly that Hizballah had operatives in Syria. In December, senior Syrian defectors to the opposition reported that Hizballah operatives had been trained to deploy Syrian chemical weapons. These developments reflect the strong support that Hizballah’s leaders have expressed for the Syrian regime over a period of years. Growing Hizballah Power Undermines Lebanese Stability Following Lebanon’s 2005 Cedar Revolution, which ended Syria’s 30-year occupation of Lebanon, the United States became one of Lebanon’s largest donors. Since 2006, America has provided the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) with more than $800 million in security assistance. Despite this effort to build Lebanese institutions independent of Hizballah, the terrorist group has greatly strengthened its political power. In May 2008, Hizballah launched attacks on civilian neighborhoods in Beirut, placing the country on the brink of civil war. Weeks later, the pro-Western March 14th movement and Hizballah reached a temporary agreement granting Hizballah increased leverage in the cabinet. The following year, Hizballah suffered an electoral setback in parliamentary elections. However, the pro-Western majority was unable to actualize its electoral success in the formation of a new government. Instead, it was forced to form a unity government with the Hizballah-led opposition, which was able to block any legislation of consequence. Hizballah used its position to defend the assassins of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. In January 2011, Hizballah forced the government to collapse over the U.N.’s efforts to bring to justice Hizballah members who had played a role in the Hariri slaying. Hizballah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah pledged to “cut off the hand” of anyone attempting to enforce indictments against Hizballah officials. Hizballah exploited its political power to install the pro-Syrian Najib Mikati as Lebanon’s prime minister, leading the U.S. to temporarily suspend the provision of any lethal equipment to the Lebanese Armed Forces. The Hizballah-backed government remains politically paralyzed in the shadow of the Syrian uprising and the uncertainty of President Bashar Assad’s rule. Hizballah, which has consolidated political power in Lebanon, serves as Iran’s proxy in the unstable country. 167
SYRIA-LEBANON What Congress Has Done to Isolate Hizballah Urged the EU to Designate Hizballah as a Terrorist Group. In March 2005, the House and Senate passed resolutions urging the European Union (EU) to designate Hizballah as a terrorist organization. A decade earlier, the United States had designated the group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Congress urged the EU to prohibit the funding of Hizballah and recognize the organization as a threat to global security. While individual countries have taken steps to ban Hizballah’s fundraising activities, the EU as a body has not sanctioned Hizballah. Called for the Designation of Al-Manar as a Terrorist Organization. A July 2005 letter signed by 51 senators urged the Bush administration to place Al-Manar on the Treasury Department’s Specially Designated Global Terrorist Entity (SDGT) list. Al- Manar is the official television station of Hizballah and has a history of broadcasting anti-Israel, anti-Semitic and anti-American material. The administration sanctioned Al-Manar the following year. Condemned Hizballah and Reaffirmed Israel’s Right to Self-Defense. During the 2006 war between Israel and Hizballah, the House and Senate overwhelmingly passed resolutions reaffirming Israel’s right to self-defense against Hizballah’s unprovoked attacks. The resolutions also condemned Syria and Iran for supporting Hizballah. Provided Economic and Military Assistance to Lebanon. In the aftermath of the 2006 war between Hizballah and Israel, Congress dramatically increased aid to the Lebanese army as a way to help build a national institution after years of Syrian domination and to counter Hizballah’s growing influence. Since 2007, the United States has provided more than $1.3 billion in aid to Lebanon, including more than $700 million in security assistance. As part of the appropriations and authorization process, Congress has provided important oversight for this military assistance, requiring the secretary of state to offer a detailed spending plan prior to the provision of aid. In light of Hizballah’s expanded influence over the Lebanese government, however, the fiscal year 2012 foreign aid bill does not provide a specific amount for security assistance to Lebanon and new language restricts any funds from going to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) if it is controlled by a foreign terrorist organization. 168
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1 1 3 T H C O N G R E S S • 1 S T
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TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREIGN AID 102 F
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INTRODUCTION What AIPAC Supports Th
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Why Israel Matte
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS The Jewish Conne
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THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL’S BORDERS L
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS massacres, prese
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS An Ancient Capit
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israel. However,
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS What Congress Di
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israel Shares Am
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israel Respects
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS prime minister.
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS What Congress Ha
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israel Provides
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israeli agricult
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israeli High-Tec
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RELATIONSHIP Relationship—Key Pri
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RELATIONSHIP The United States Has
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RELATIONSHIP that providing militar
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RELATIONSHIP What Congress Has Done
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RELATIONSHIP Israel Is America’s
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RELATIONSHIP boosting Israel’s ro
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RELATIONSHIP cooperation between th
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RELATIONSHIP State, Local Officials
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RELATIONSHIP America’s Oil Depend
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RELATIONSHIP The United States and
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RELATIONSHIP oil through the deploy
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RELATIONSHIP The U.S.-Israel Econom
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RELATIONSHIP Apple, Google, Intel a
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RELATIONSHIP Israeli companies have
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RELATIONSHIP What Congress Has Done
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ISRAEL AT RISK Why Israel Is at Ris
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ISRAEL AT RISK Iran: The Leading St
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TERRORIST BUILDUP IN GAZA Ashkelon
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ISRAEL AT RISK U.N. Security Counci
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ISRAEL AT RISK The Missile Threat I
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THE IRANIAN MISSILE THREAT BEL LARU
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ISRAEL AT RISK Syrian Weapons Arsen
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ISRAEL AT RISK What Congress Has Do
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ISRAEL AT RISK Iran Pursues Nukes,
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ISRAEL AT RISK A Region in Flux The
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ISRAEL AT RISK The Egyptian militar
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ISRAEL AT RISK From Double Standard
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ISRAEL AT RISK repeatedly held “E
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ISRAEL AT RISK 2002 alone, Palestin
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FOREIGN AID Foreign Aid—Key Princ
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FOREIGN AID U.S.-Israel Agreement A
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FOREIGN AID The most recent U.S.-pr
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INCREASED THREATS, INCREASED COSTS:
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FOREIGN AID Keeping America Safe, S
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FOREIGN AID Securing America, Stren
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FOREIGN AID Foreign aid plays a cri
Page 117 and 118: FOREIGN AID What Congress Has Done
Page 119 and 120: IRAN Iran—Key Principles PREVENT
Page 121 and 122: IRAN How a Nuclear Iran Would Under
Page 123 and 124: IRAN UNDERMINE AMERICA’S CREDIBIL
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Page 127 and 128: IRAN In 2012, the Obama administrat
Page 129 and 130: IRAN A Terrorist Regime Iran is the
Page 131 and 132: IRAN The Islamic Revolutionary Guar
Page 133 and 134: IRAN What Congress Has Done to Coun
Page 135 and 136: IRAN The Regime Has a Long History
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Page 139 and 140: PEACE PROCESS The Peace Process—K
Page 141 and 142: PEACE PROCESS United States, Israel
Page 143 and 144: PEACE PROCESS a state in other U.N.
Page 145 and 146: PEACE PROCESS THE UNITED STATES SHO
Page 147 and 148: ISRAEL’S QUEST FOR PEACE Even bef
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Page 151 and 152: PEACE PROCESS Hamas: 25 Years of Te
Page 153 and 154: PEACE PROCESS right and real way to
Page 155 and 156: PEACE PROCESS What Congress Has Don
Page 157 and 158: SYRIA-LEBANON Syria and Lebanon—K
Page 159 and 160: SYRIA-LEBANON The Syrian Regime Has
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Page 167: SYRIA-LEBANON Hizballah Serves as I
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