Summary This study argues that Hamas and Hizbollah, the two main religious groups fighting Israel, probably are more threatening to U.S. interests than is generally believed. It discusses the various openings that the groups were able to exploit to advance themselves, and particularly how they profited from errors on the Israelis' part. At the same time, the study contends, there has been a corresponding rise of religious radicalism in Israel. This means that on both sides of the struggle--Jewish as well as Arab-- extremism is gaining strength. It is going to be difficult, the study concludes, to avoid a decisive confrontation between the two forces. To be sure, the Israelis have now begun peace talks with the Arabs. However, the study points out, the talks are not proceeding as well as might be hoped. In line with this, a proposal has been put forward to overcome the present impasse. This suggestion involves stationing U.S. troops on the Golan Heights as guarantors of security. The author believes that this idea should be scrutinized carefully. The plan may result in the United States becoming bogged down in the territories for an extended period. Moreover, the level of violence in this area is such that positioning U.S. troops there could jeopardize their safety. Introduction. Hamas and Hizbollah are two groups that are well-known and generally feared throughout the Middle East. They are the ones most actively striving to bring about the destruction of Israel. Beyond seeking the destruction of the Jewish state, they are part of a movement that aims to destroy the Middle East state system. The primary weapon with which the groups hope to accomplish this is ideology. The radicals have formulated a call to action that is extraordinarily persuasive to communities in despair. Unemployed youth in particular respond to the notion that violence is empowering and that to exist one must fight. This is the essence of jihad, a concept that westerners consistently misconstrue. This study focuses on communities where the radicals have had their greatest successes: the Palestinians living under Israeli domination and the Shias of southern Lebanon. It shows how misguided policies instituted by the Israelis helped Hamas and Hizbollah to put down roots in these communities and eventually to flourish. What the West is confronting, the study warns, is a regional Islamic revolution, brought about by Hamas and Hizbollah, with the aid of other radical groups similarly inspired. The study examines this unique species of radicalism so that U.S. policymakers and military leaders can defend against it. It first considers Hamas and conditions of life in the Gaza Strip, Hamas's principal base of operations.

This report describes how the Israel Defense Force fought an adaptive hybrid adversary in a dense urban setting under intense public scrutiny during its wars in Gaza and draws lessons from the Israeli experience for the U.S. Army and the joint force.

Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist military and sociopolitical movement that grew out of the Muslim Brotherhood. The U.S., Israel, the EU, and Canada consider Hamas a terrorist org. This report provides background info. on Hamas, or the Islamic Resistance Movement, and U.S. policy towards it. It also includes info. and analysis on: (1) the threats Hamas currently poses to U.S. interests; (2) how Hamas compares with other Middle East terrorist groups; (3) Hamas¿s ideology and policies; (4) its leadership and org., and (5) its sources of assistance. Finally, the report discusses various legislative and oversight options related to foreign aid strategies, financial sanctions, and regional and international political approaches. A print on demand report.

Throughout the Arab world, Islamist political movements are joining the electoral process. This change alarms some observers and excites other. In recent years, electoral opportunities have opened, and Islamist movements have seized them. But those opportunities, while real, have also been sharply circumscribed. Elections may be freer, but they are not fair. The opposition can run but it generally cannot win. Semiauthoritarian conditions prevail in much of the Arab world, even in the wake of the Arab Spring. How do Islamist movements change when they plunge into freer but unfair elections? How do their organizations (such as the Muslim Brotherhood) and structures evolve? What happens to their core ideological principles? And how might their increased involvement affect the political system? In When Victory Is Not an Option, Nathan J. Brown addresses these questions by focusing on Islamist movements in Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, and Palestine. He shows that uncertain benefits lead to uncertain changes. Islamists do adapt their organizations and their ideologies do bend—some. But leaders almost always preserve a line of retreat in case the political opening fizzles or fails to deliver what they wish. The result is a cat-and-mouse game between dominant regimes and wily movements. There are possibilities for more significant changes, but to date they remain only possibilities.

This detailed analysis follows the rise and evolution of Hezbollah from an Islamic resistance movement to its role as a governing force in Lebanon, exploring the group's impact on the security and power dynamics in the Middle East. This is the first book of its kind to offer a comprehensive study of Hezbollah, providing an overview of the organization's key personalities, events, and structures over the past three decades. Inspired by the latest terrorism research and contemporary developments in the Middle East, the book reflects upon Hezbollah's religious foundations and its present role as a player in Middle East relations. Chapters place Hezbollah within the Middle East security environment, analyzing the rise of the Party of God within the context of Iranian-inspired Shi'a activism, examining the ideological underpinnings of the movement, and addressing its dominant political position post Arab Spring. This authoritative volume introduces the party's full range of activities, including resistance, propaganda, organized crime, and educational facilities. The content highlights Hezbollah's role as a social welfare provider—specifically, the types of aid given, the source of financing for the endeavor, and the challenge this role presents to the Lebanese state.