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
- Not all threats to Israel are the same, and different threats require different strategies.
- How terrorist groups like Hezbollah understand the relationship between Jews and Israel should impact our understanding of that relationship.
- Social and economic changes can open doors for new ideas and initiatives to take hold.
Essential Questions
- How does understanding a threat’s motivations impact Israel’s response?
- Given that groups like Hezbollah target Jewish communities outside of Israel, what is the connection between Israel and the Jewish community in the Diaspora?
- What are the best ways to handle security threats?
