The 33-Day War: Israel's War on Hezbollah in Lebanon and Its Consequences » (New Edition)

Gilbert Achcar, who lived in Lebanon for many years before moving to France, now teaches politics and international relations at the University of Paris. He is the author of several books on contemporary politics and is a frequent contributor to Le Monde Diplomatique.

Michel Warschawski, a veteran journalist and peace activist, founded the Alternative Information Center in Jerusalem, a Palestinian-Israeli news organization that disseminaties information, research, and political analysis on Palistinian and Israeli societies.

Up to date through the events of October 2006, this book assesses the causes and consequences of the impact of the recent Middle East war. The authors describe the popular basis of Hezbollah in Lebanon among the Shiites, but also its relation to the country's other religious communities and political forces. They analyze the regional roles of Syria, Iran, and Hamas, as well as the politics of the United States and Europe.

The 33-Day War dissects the strategic and political background behind recent actions taken by Israel, the impact of Israel's incursion into Lebanon and the effects on Lebanon's population, and the consequences of the war on Israel's polity and society. Throughout the years, Lebanon has confirmed its stance as Israel's Vietnam: the last war provoked the most serious political earthquake that Israel ever experienced since the 1973 "Yom Kippur War."

Preface: From the Six-Day War to the Thirty-Three-Day War     v
Lebanon, from Its Origins to July 12, 2006     1
The Precariousness of the Lebanese State     1
The Civil War, 1975-1990     4
Washington and Paris Versus Tehran and Damascus     6
Lebanon After the Departure of Syrian Troops     10
Israel's Twin Offensives     13
Hezbollah, from Its Origins to July 12, 2006     17
From One Radicalization to Another     17
The Growth and Mutation of Hezbollah     20
Khomeinism Adapted to Lebanese Reality     23
Resistance and Charity     27
The Hostage Taking of July 12, 2006     31
The Thirty-Three-Day War and Its Consequences in Lebanon     37
The Real Aims of Israel's Offensive     37
Taking Over from the Israeli Offensive     40
Resolution 1701     44
Hezbollah's Stance     47
The Continuation of War by Other Means     49
Israel, Between Its "Second Lebanon War" and Its Participation in Washington's "Global War"     55
The Israeli Side's Stated Aims     55
Israel in Washington's "Global War"     59
"Civilization War"     62
Military Failure     64
Neoliberal War     69
Antiwar Movements     73
After War, Crisis     76
Conclusion: The Sinking Ship of U.S. Imperial Designs     83
Cowboy Diplomacy     84
Gulliver and the Lilliputians     87
Israel to the Rescue     90
The Side Effects of Colonial Wars     93
Notes     97
Index     105
About the Authors     114