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ANALYSIS / What does Nasrallah mean by 'defense strategy'?
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Hezbollah, prisoner swap 

In his latest speeches Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah has resumed using the term "defense strategy" in reference to future military action by his organization.

"We are always ready to discuss the defense strategy. We are not afraid of discussion," Nasrallah said in his speech in Beirut Wednesday, "... because Lebanon is not out of danger."

What did he mean? "Defense strategy" is in effect the justification for Hezbollah's continued military activity within Lebanon and vis-a-vis Israel.
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In the domestic sphere, Nasrallah was indicating Hezbollah's response to its political rivals' demand that it disarm or merge with the Lebanese Army, which the organization is loth to do.

The demand to disarm has been increasing since May, when Hezbollah militants attacked rivals from various sects throughout Lebanon.

Nasrallah claims that Hezbollah's weapons are only part of a broad defense system that Lebanon should set up.

On Wednesday he hinted that members of all sects in Lebanon would be required to contribute to the country's defense from now on. He did not say whether he meant that all Lebanese citizens will have to serve in the army, but he made it clear that Hezbollah would continue to act alongside the army as the Shi'ite defense force.

Israel is following Nasrallah's moves and statements closely.

Nasrallah said that now his organization's mission is to free Lebanese lands still occupied by Israel - the Shaba Farm area, Kfar Shuba (Har Dov) and the northern part of Ghajar village, from which Israelis forces did not withdraw after the Second Lebanon War.

Recent reports in the Lebanese media suggest that completing the prisoner exchange with Israel may bring about a change in Hezbollah's military actions.

The Israel Defense Forces, meanwhile, fears that Hezbollah will now seek ways to act against the IDF in Lebanon.

It could attack Israeli military aircraft, ships or soldiers entering Lebanese space or territory, in violation of the UN resolution that ended the 2006 war.

Nasrallah could also use the "defense strategy" to legitimize Hezbollah activity in Lebanese villages.

In the past two years Hezbollah has been bolstering its underground infrastructures in South Lebanon, despite villagers' fears that they could be hurt in a future confrontation.

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      1.   Israeli Forces Shoudn`t Enter Lebanon, A Sovereign State, Anyway 05:04  |  Johan Odin 18/07/08
      2.   I just read a report of George Orwell not spinning in his grave.. 05:27  |  Victor 18/07/08
      3.   Hizballah scores one more time. 05:31  |  Adonis 18/07/08
      4.   Nayeed Hasen Nas-Alllah 05:44  |  Steven 18/07/08
      5.   Suffice to say, Hesbollah has many scores to settle. 06:08  |  Chas. 18/07/08
      6.   Once again Israel applying aggression by being attacked by Hezbo 07:02  |  Dan 18/07/08
      7.   "defense strategy" - just ANOTHER nail in the coffin for 1701 07:16  |  CK Tan 18/07/08
      8.   We should fight them without any other consideration than beat... 08:03  |  Jean Van Daem 18/07/08
      9.   Next time just bomb, no troops 08:14  |  Ilan 18/07/08
      10.   Poor Lebanon: it can`t shake off this Hizbullah cancer 08:30  |  Samuel Prime 18/07/08
      11.   Nasrallah did. and hewill do it again... 08:37  |  bashar 18/07/08
      12.   Nasrallah`s Defense Strategy 09:02  |  Yosemite 18/07/08
      13.   End of Zionism 09:20  |  petr vojta 18/07/08
      14.   HEZBOLLAH CAN TAKE OVER LEBANESE ARMY 09:39  |  Arik Silverman 18/07/08
      15.   Israel is good at providing causes celebres 09:41  |  Clickfool 18/07/08
      16.   Israel still occupies parts of Lebanon 10:24  |  Natallie Durson 18/07/08
      17.   INDICT OLMERT NOW! No further proof needed 10:27  |  Dolly 18/07/08
      18.   RATS LIKE JUMBLATT, HARIRIE, SINIORA ETC. 10:58  |  indrajaya 18/07/08
      19.   PLEASE CLICKFOOL, LOOK A LITTLE BIT FARTHER... 11:14  |  MOSHEH 18/07/08
      20.   GEOGRAPHIC PRECISION FOR NATALIE DURSON... 11:24  |  MOSHEH 18/07/08
      21.   Cycle of violence 11:31  |  FreeOne 18/07/08
      22.   `to number 8 11:55  |  jimmy 18/07/08
      23.   There you go then 12:08  |  Chris Linthwaite 18/07/08
      24.   To Jean Van Daem # 8 You Cannot while Olmert stays 12:41  |  Dolly 18/07/08
      25.   Clickfool #15 and Natalie #16 12:57  |  GSW 18/07/08
      26.   Geographic precision: they live in delusion 13:22  |  Ilan 18/07/08
      27.   #18 indrajaya 13:27  |  Recep 18/07/08
      28.   number 25 13:35  |  Sami 18/07/08
      29.   Withdrawn GSW? 13:44  |  Bernie 18/07/08
      30.   on violating UN resolutions 13:55  |  rafael 18/07/08
      31.   To Jean 14:24  |  Alan 18/07/08
      32.   How deep is the rat hole 14:32  |  Sabra 18/07/08
      33.   A curious piece of logic by GSW # 25 14:35  |  Clickfool 18/07/08
      34.   Dear John Odius: it was interesting to hear 14:44  |  Star of David 18/07/08
      35.   Nasrallah 14:59  |  David 18/07/08
      36.   Iran has taken over in the Lebannon 15:34  |  ScotGuy 18/07/08
      37.   Clickfool, Hezbo terrorists are good at inventing causes celebres 15:59  |  Dan 18/07/08
      38.   Natallie Durson, can you quote the UN decision on your claim? 15:59  |  Dan 18/07/08
      39.   # 27, RECEP 16:15  |  indrajaya 18/07/08
      40.   Defense: Nasrallah unafraid of TALK and DISCUSS strategy. 16:19  |  The Archives 18/07/08
      41.   # 32, SABRA 16:20  |  indrajaya 18/07/08
      42.   Clickfool # 33 16:42  |  GSW 18/07/08
      43.   PLAIN AND SIMPLE;HE MEANS THE SHABA FARMS AND MORE MURDER;HE WILL 16:51  |  glenna 18/07/08
      44.   Who owns Sheeba 16:51  |  GSW 18/07/08
      45.   Hizbullah needs to score more points 16:57  |  Palestinian 18/07/08
      46.   Where in the resolution 17:07  |  Dave Duncan 18/07/08
      47.   bashar,if nASSrallah does it again,israel will do it again also! 17:29  |  terrornator 18/07/08
      48.   "villagers` fears ": HOW CONCERNED IS THE ZIONST WRITER FOR ARABS 17:38  |  JACKAL 18/07/08
      49.   Defense Strategy 17:43  |  ED 18/07/08
      50.   Looking for rationality in the Madman`s utterings 17:50  |  Sima 18/07/08
      51.   The defence strategy to keep Olmert and Barak in power 18:04  |  Sal 18/07/08
      52.   Nasrallah`s REAL "strategy" 18:12  |  Jimmy 18/07/08
      53.   Israel has a Weapon it knows not of, He will be there when she 18:33  |  Palestinian boy 18/07/08
      54.   #9 Ilan - US, EU, Iran, rest of world paying the 5 billion 18:39  |  Pablo B 18/07/08
      55.   #14 Arik - many Leb Army being trained by US/EU also hezb 18:55  |  Pablo B 18/07/08
      56.   GSW, Chebaa belongs to Lebanon 19:10  |  Bernie 18/07/08
      57.   Lebanese getting what they deserve-a Shite dictatorship 19:10  |  Voice of Reason 18/07/08
      58.   Resolution 1701 is a little Murky - Dave 19:17  |  Bernie 18/07/08
      59.   #35 GSW - UN about to publish the answer to Shebba Farms 19:17  |  Pablo B 18/07/08
      60.   For "Palestinian Boy" # 44 19:56  |  Clickfool 18/07/08
      61.   Defensive Strategy? 21:01  |  P. J. Casey 18/07/08
      62.   #10 Samuel Prime 21:04  |  ballistic 18/07/08
      63.   #26 Say Illan 21:08  |  ballistic 18/07/08
      64.   #35 GSW, well, for sure Israel doesn`t own it! 21:11  |  ballistic 18/07/08
      65.   what Nasrallah means by defense strategy 21:12  |  jj 18/07/08
      66.   #30 Rafael 21:16  |  ballistic 18/07/08
      67.   #35 Pablo, you certainly see clearly! 21:19  |  ballistic 18/07/08
      68.   Natali Durson hopes 21:37  |  arik 18/07/08
      69.   Hezbanon 21:57  |  Harry 18/07/08
      70.   what makes the Israelis bitter 22:14  |  Tony, Lebanese 18/07/08
      71.   Nasrallah needs to "defend" Lebanon as much as Hitler needed - 22:36  |  ivo 18/07/08
      72.   Intensely funny 22:52  |  Peter 18/07/08
      73.   Does Latani River, Shatila and Sabria Mean Anything? 23:04  |  Gray 18/07/08
      74.   The real prisoner 23:22  |  Sarah 18/07/08
      75.   Try this article from Now Lebanon 23:48  |  Jo 18/07/08
      76.   Mr. Gray from Virginia 23:50  |  Sarah 18/07/08
      77.   to # 8 23:52  |  najour 18/07/08
      78.   #57 Tony,Lebanese 00:05  |  Sarah 19/07/08
      79.   Arik 00:23  |  Iceberg 19/07/08
      80.   #61 Say Ivo 00:50  |  ballistic 19/07/08
      81.   #63 Well ouch there Gray!! 00:53  |  ballistic 19/07/08
      82.   SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU #63 GRAY… 00:57  |  MOSHEH 19/07/08
      83.   gray and ballestic,maybe the two of you combined can 01:18  |  terrornator 19/07/08
      84.   #61, ivo, very well said, as always 01:19  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 19/07/08
      85.   Iceberg 01:49  |  arik 19/07/08
      86.   #16 What parts of Lebanon? 02:27  |  DesMnsDave 19/07/08
      87.   #64 DesMnDave needs to read a bit more deeply 04:23  |  Johnboy 19/07/08
      88.   ballistic I think you love us as much as you say Na-zi-ralla does 04:41  |  Dan 19/07/08
      89.   #9 Ilan. All bombs and no brains. 04:54  |  Maureen Ann 19/07/08
      90.   Pay attention 05:05  |  Mark Lincoln 19/07/08
      91.   Hey boys and girls, don`t forget now, Hezzy "won the war" 05:23  |  Conroy 19/07/08
      92.   INTERESTING 05:31  |  VIPER 19/07/08
      93.   Arab Nationalism Alive and Well 07:21  |  Arab Thinker 19/07/08
      94.   Hez Doesn`t Realize What It has Created 07:38  |  Dave Levy 19/07/08
      95.   Arik II 08:14  |  Iceberg 19/07/08
      96.   Israel has seen its best days 09:11  |  ELIAS KHOURY 19/07/08
      97.   #87 I stand corrected 09:12  |  DesMnsDave 19/07/08
      98.   #90, Mark Lincoln, now you pay attention 09:13  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 19/07/08
      99.   Conroy and David Levy 09:20  |  FreeOne 19/07/08
      100.   Iceberg II 09:22  |  arik 19/07/08
      101.   arab nationalism 09:29  |  arik 19/07/08
      102.   #36 09:31  |  A Lebanese 19/07/08
      103.   No. 54 Pablo B 09:38  |  a wandering Jew 19/07/08
      104.   No. 93 Arab Thinker--Think Further 09:52  |  a wandering Jew 19/07/08
      105.   For GSW again # 42 10:08  |  Clickfool 19/07/08
      106.   Well ouch there, Ballistic # 80 10:14  |  Clickfool 19/07/08
      107.   ICEBERG, TOO MUCH WORDS, A PICTURE IS SUFFICIENT… 10:43  |  MOSHEH 19/07/08
      108.   #65 The BEST Defense for Israel to Attack. 11:15  |  The Archives 19/07/08
      109.   Nasralla has failed 11:17  |  JG 19/07/08
      110.   Hezbollah and Nasrallah. 11:27  |  David Nigel Braham 19/07/08
      111.   # 94 to dave levy in burbank: i caught it, too... 12:57  |  eric 19/07/08
      112.   Sarah, MOSH. & terr. Insults = Craven Concession 12:58  |  Gray 19/07/08
      113.   Dave Levy-wrong 13:30  |  Malka Leifer 19/07/08
      114.   #97 Gray 13:55  |  Sarah 19/07/08
      115.   ballistic #80: your argument has about as much weight as - 14:04  |  ivo 19/07/08
      116.   Nasrallah 14:23  |  Roxy 19/07/08
      117.   victory of lebanon 14:30  |  zeinab 19/07/08
      118.   #89 Broken record 15:03  |  Rab Burns 19/07/08
      119.   MOSHEH 15:31  |  Iceberg 19/07/08
      120.   No, Gray, insulting you is purely for pleasure 16:34  |  Freethinker 19/07/08
      121.   #89 I`d say `stepping stones` 17:23  |  John Allen 19/07/08
      122.   #96 eLIAS. "Israel bitting off more than it can chew" 17:41  |  John Allen 19/07/08
      123.   #112 Gray 17:47  |  John Allen 19/07/08
      124.   #112 Gray, the physco analist? 17:56  |  John Allen 19/07/08
      125.   #118 Starving kids around the world. 18:01  |  John Allen 19/07/08
      126.   Nationalism clashes with globalization 18:09  |  Anonymous 19/07/08
      127.   Nasrallah`s mistake 18:12  |  Anonymous 19/07/08
      128.   NASRALLAHS defense strategy is to stay well hidden 18:38  |  PETER SM 19/07/08
      129.   ODIN tell your comrades not to attack Israel.It was all quiet 18:45  |  PETER SM 19/07/08
      130.   Arik III 18:47  |  Iceberg 19/07/08
      131.   #123, What portions of Gray`s points you deem ... 18:56  |  ManintheMiddle 19/07/08
      132.   A strong defense vs. human rights 18:59  |  Anonymous 19/07/08
      133.   JOhn Allen 19:00  |  arik 19/07/08
      134.   SIMPLE ! 19:04  |  David 19/07/08
      135.   Arab Thinker, Arab Nationalism is in a coma. 19:22  |  ManintheMiddle 19/07/08
      136.   Hello, Sarah 19:26  |  Gray 19/07/08
      137.   Anonymous and simple David 19:42  |  FreeOne 19/07/08
      138.   John Allen; You`re doing a pretty poor job of... 19:56  |  Gray 19/07/08
      139.   GRAY in Your ME travels how much time did you spend in Israel? 20:11  |  PETER SM 19/07/08
      140.   Israel killed children 20:38  |  Lebanese 19/07/08
      141.   Prediction for Lebanon under Hezb rule 20:51  |  Mr T 19/07/08
      142.   Sarah #114 21:00  |  American in NY 19/07/08
      143.   Operation Litani; 1978 21:01  |  Gray 19/07/08
      144.   Proof of Israel`s Intentions to Steal the Litani River 21:26  |  Gray 19/07/08
      145.   Gray 21:31  |  Sarah 19/07/08
      146.   #142 American in New-York 21:33  |  Sarah 19/07/08
      147.   Fear is the Key (Alistaire McClean) 21:55  |  Shoshana Thomasson 19/07/08
      148.   Sarah 22:15  |  FreeOne 19/07/08
      149.   #143 Gray (Part 1) 22:27  |  Charles Ronen 19/07/08
      150.   IcebergIII 22:29  |  arik 19/07/08
      151.   To Johan Odin from Oslo 22:33  |  Shoshana Thomasson 19/07/08
      152.   Sarah: Please Read More Carefully 22:49  |  Gray 19/07/08
      153.   #143 Gray (Part 2) 22:53  |  Charles Ronen 19/07/08
      154.   Sarah; "Tourist"? 23:01  |  Gray 19/07/08
      155.   defense 00:33  |  zechariah 20/07/08
      156.   sarah # 146 00:39  |  American in NY 20/07/08
      157.   Petersm "Israeli accounts" 01:07  |  Gray 20/07/08
      158.   who is the agressor 02:03  |  Robin Hood 20/07/08
      159.   To Star of David 02:12  |  Robin Hood 20/07/08
      160.   @148 Gray on Israeli "revenge" trips 02:20  |  Mark B. 20/07/08
      161.   Voice of Reason 02:24  |  Robin Hood 20/07/08
      162.   Mosheh of 82 appropriate no 02:31  |  Robin Hood 20/07/08
      163.   Ivo 03:06  |  Danite 20/07/08
      164.   Mark B: Amsterdam, A Great City 03:07  |  Gray 20/07/08
      165.   Mark Lincoln 03:08  |  Danite 20/07/08
      166.   Charles R. "that nest of vipers in S. Lebanon" 03:22  |  Gray 20/07/08
      167.   # Rab Burns. Break a record. 04:02  |  Maureen Ann 20/07/08
      168.   GRAY" ALL" IDF you met ?"ALL swagerring" "All Bullying" 04:04  |  PETER SM 20/07/08
      169.   GRAY hate to break it to you Ben Gurion& Dayan are dead 04:12  |  PETER SM 20/07/08
      170.   Sarah # 146 sadly you are decietful! 04:27  |  American in NY 20/07/08
      171.   Does Lebanon want another war? 04:50  |  Margaret Connell 20/07/08
      172.   MARK B..How often and under what circumstances 05:08  |  PETER SM 20/07/08
      173.   Gray omits pertinent FACTS 05:22  |  Joe Frazier 20/07/08
      174.   Margaret Connell 07:43  |  FreeOne 20/07/08
      175.   #105 Clickfool re: #42 10:07  |  vildechaye 20/07/08
      176.   #171 Margaret Connell 11:40  |  Nick Ferriman 20/07/08
      177.   Lebanon &Nasrallah need efense against Israeli agression 19:43  |  American in NY 20/07/08
      178.   Nasrallah`s Main Advantage 07:07  |  Yosemite 22/07/08
      179.   Paki`s 01:01  |  Cornelias 06/01/09
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