What is Hezbollah?

When Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini took control of Iran in the Islamic Revolution of 1979, no one could have predicted that it would be a catalyst for the formation of the terrorist organization Hezbollah, or “Party of God.” 

Since its inception, Hezbollah has grown from a small militant group in Lebanon to a massively well-funded organization hell-bent on destroying Israel. Despite retaliation from the Israel Defense Forces, Hezbollah’s power continues to grow and remains a serious threat to Israeli lives; a fact which will remain until true peace is found between Israel and Lebanon. 

Big Ideas

1. Not all threats to Israel are the same, and different threats require different strategies.
2. How terrorist groups like Hezbollah understand the relationship between Jews and Israel should impact our understanding of that relationship. 
3. Social and economic changes can open doors for new ideas and initiatives to take hold.

Essential Questions

1. How does understanding a threat’s motivations impact Israel’s response?
2. Given that groups like Hezbollah target Jewish communities outside of Israel, what is the connection between Israel and the Jewish community in the Diaspora? 
3. What are the best ways to handle security threats?