Immediately after the explosion buildings lie in ruins theres broken glass everywhere people are in shock. Ok i believe god i think they are getting married oh hello. Less than a 2nd to last everything i so deeply was using and. I was opposed to this although you know you love them more than 150 people are dead and thousands injured many others are still missing. This is spec to cause of the blast in correct storage of highly explosive chemicals. The porch where the explosion took place is thought to be largely under the control of hezbollah and state structures have ceased to exist in many parts of lebanon and the she has a lot more party of god has exploited the power vacuum for years undermining lebannon suppose medical system. Supported and financed by iran hezbollah is dividing the country. As well as critics would say yes to this those views they blast region hezbollah supposes would say that hezbollahs military strength is an asset for lebanon because that keeps israel away in the war in syria has pulled off fought successfully on the side of president Bashar Al Assad helping to keep him in power. Back home in lebanon the group has emerged stronger than ever the more theyre fighting to defend is the model of bashar assad which this is if its a ship. So to what extent does hezbollah determine the course of politics in lebanon. Even before the beirut explosion the city still bore the scars of a civil war that for more than 15 years crippled the capital and the country as a whole. Was among those who fought back that. He was 16 years old when he 1st held a weapon and his hands. On. The lebanese civil war erupted in 1975. Beirut became a battlefield as did virtually the entire country. The war initially saw christian militias fighting against the Palestinian Liberation Organization or p. L. O. Which was threatening to take control of beirut. The hostilities then escalated into a broader conflict between christians and arab nationalists. Eventually in 1902 israel invaded and occupied southern lebanon. In order to expel the p. L. O. From the country it was during this time that hezbollah was formed in resistance to israel the war claimed tens of thousands of lives and left the country devastated ziad so our believe his generation has a lot to answer for the bad thing for us who was a person who where might a very they know but they dont speak about that. Thats why every 1520 years something some closely. They know. How to throw the buildings and they go on mode to make a small house where they go they dont know anything about life except applied to. Among the biggest losers of the civil war for the maronite christians who are affiliated with the Roman Catholic church. In 1943 france had relinquished its mandate over levanon and the country became independent for decades afterwards the maronites held sway and levanon muslims druze Orthodox Christians and all other religious minorities had to accept the political and economic supremacy of the maronites. Defeat and the civil war had far reaching consequences for them as middle east Analyst Daniel gallo often explains. Believe an envoy to the state of lebanon was created in order to guarantee a christian majority its an absolute exception in the history of the middle east was on the state was created with the help of the west and also the league of nations in which christians were in the majority and unique and asked by able to determine Political Developments in the before the lebanese civil war the christians had enjoyed guaranteed privileges including a majority in parliament jotham you after the war and through the agreements that was signed in its wake. This changed today the christians no longer have those privileges now after the civil war the cards were reshuffled lebanon system of shared power was revised to give the Muslim Population equal representation. Each religious group was granted posts and privileges but those groups tend to look after their own interests rather than working for the benefit of the country sectarian networks have thrived fueled by corruption and nepotism making the whole system resistant to change. The party of the maronite christians is led by sami who comes from one of lebanons most prominent political dynasties. Both his uncle and brother were assassinated. Nevertheless the mile believes and lebanese democracy. We have a history of 80 years of democracy the only maybe country in the region where you have expresident living in peace in their own country you have every 4 years in the election you have. Governments are being formed even if it takes time even if its difficult to do it every time but at least you are doing it and its a democratic process and this is a model that. That you are willing to defend. But the political system in lebanon is now under greater threat than ever before the shia has balon movement is growing in strength. Many of its supporters despise the lebanese state. On the last friday of ramadan has been lost celebrates all could see or jerusalem day which was 1st instituted by the iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979 as a day of resistance to israel. The dome of the rock in jerusalem. Has become a symbol of that struggle. Hezbollah calls itself the party of the resistance opposing not only israel but also its own seemingly powerless state. Only resistance has proved successful but by hezbollah not the state this Resistance Movement emerged the moment it became clear that the state was powerless to do anything for the state let the occupying israelis humiliate us to the extreme in the south of the country on a daily basis the Resistance Movement consists of all these people here live on how do they now see. Hezbollah as base is made up of the many poor shiites who constitute roughly one quarter of the population of lebanon. Hezbollahs secretary general. Is the man they look to for decades hes been the head of the party and the armed militia its been years since now israel has appeared in public due to the risk of assassination the list of nasr all his enemies is long israel regards him as a chief terrorist. On this occasion his supporters only get to see him on a big screen he sent a video message from a hiding place in the mountains. We have precision missiles capable of hitting all essential targets in the zionist entity. And hezbollah doesnt just make empty threats over the years its carried out attacks in many parts of the world targeting the us french and above all israeli interests. The u. S. And israel have designated hezbollah a terrorist organization. Some European Countries have completely banned the group. Called the European Union only calls hezbollahs military wing a terrorist organization i love. I. Hezbollah has mounted numerous attacks on northern israel near the border with lebanon ducting soldiers targeting and killing civilians firing rockets and using suicide bombers. Who move who. Works at the institute for National Security studies in telhami. Visible is definitely the most Dangerous Organization but its not only organization is a but is a political its a social network its a religious spotty and its also an army its a very well equipped Army Advanced ami was sophisticated weaponry which were provided by the iranians and the syrians. Hezbollah was formed in the 1980 s. And the but col valley on the border to syria. Today the group also controls parts of beirut and the south of the country. During lebanons civil war the hezbollah militia began fighting against israel after it occupied the south of the country. Faced with a guerrilla war of attrition the israeli army eventually pulled out of lebanon in 2000 hezbollah claimed victory. Nicholas blanford as a british journalist. During the 1990 s. He was writing for lebanese daily newspapers back then there was a general consensus within lebanon to support hezbollah to support hezbollah as resistance activities including from those the view has followed with some distrust. And theres a lot missed organization. With links to iran bobs resistance to credentials helps has followed game popular if you cross the country. Has been lost version of history is that Israel Occupied southern lebanon and that hezbollah put up resistance until the israelis withdrew. In fact as a law also mounted repeated attacks on its arch enemy after that time. In 2006 hezbollah began firing rockets into northern israel. Then crossing over into israel hezbollah militants killed 3 Israeli Soldiers and abducted 2 more. Israel hit back launching a Ground Invasion of southern lebanon and a series of airstrikes reaching as far as beirut. More than a 1000 lebanese were killed most of them civilians. The war also cemented hezbollahs status as one of israels principal enemies. The israelis faced with and is challenge by an army these using those guerrilla tactics thats what i call ethan. And it is a very well trained very well equipped. With money intentions and it jeopardize the stability of the region and it may create a war between israel and lebanon on the state of living on which is by law has basically a 100. United nations troops had been stationed in southern lebanon since 1978. Their mandate to guarantee peace and security in the contested region. But it proved an Impossible Task for a u. N. Force that was far too small. The Lebanese Army was in a pitiful state after the civil war and controlled by different religious groups. Only when 6 un peacekeepers were killed in the 2006 war between israel and hezbollah did the United Nations change its policy. Since 2006 the un forces have had whats known as a robust mandate which allows greater scope for the use of force if necessary. For years things were pretty quiet along the border but recent months have seen a number of armed skirmishes leading to a renewed rising tensions to this day a state of war still exists between israel and lebanon and the 2 countries have no diplomatic relations. Tel aviv lies 150 kilometers south of that quarter with levon on. Its israels biggest city and it now lies within the range of hezbollah missiles. Thats one of the reasons why the Israel Defense forces have chosen to locate their center of operations deep underground beneath their headquarters. Israel is such a small country that a short reaction time to attack from outside is team. Pliable to its survival. The israeli army monitors the activities of hezbollah last closely its findings show that hezbollah has grown in strength partly through the experience it has game fighting in the war in neighboring syria. Israel sees has been law in a wider strategic context. It views the shia militia 1st and foremost as a proxy for the implementation of iranian plans. Many analysts say iran is trying to establish a land corridor from its own territory to the mediterranean with the aim of projecting an extended sphere of influence were the regime in tehran now has close allies over a wide area reaching from iraq and syria through to lebanon with hezbollah. We see a rainy and attempts to create a land corridor from iran through about a 1000 kilometers more or less from iran all the way to lebanon through is all and syria when we look out events in syria we care less about if the dictator. Regains control over the country or not what were interested in is whether the iranians will be able to make this into yet another iranian. Outpost military outpost against israel and we have said very clearly that we have no intentions to allow the iranians to do so. In recent years israel has launched hundreds of attacks on suspected iranian targets in syria. Supplies destined for hezbollah lot have also been bombed in a low level war thats never been officially declared. Back to be. Route. Assura or day of remembrance is one of the most sacred dates on the shia calendar. Here in the lebanese capital its the time when veterans of the hezbollah militia are honored many of these men fought in syria its estimated that has lost more than 1500 fighters in that war together with Iranian Forces they helped to keep the regime of Bashar Al Assad in power. Good it was slow to go one of them. Was the families of those who have died in combat for hezbollah are given financial and Material Support hezbollah also runs schools and hospitals and has become an important Welfare Institution and 110 i so how is the organization financed. With iranians voice be in the main bankroller of hezbollah hezbollah years ago diversified his portfolio and they have all kinds of Revenue Streams coming directly into the organization so a lot of it is chargeable donations from wealthy shia businessmen who support hezbollah perspectives follow the same applies on a smaller scale too has follows base but they also have a whole array of Business Networks and. Hezbollah continues to grow in power and influence and is shifting the denominational power structure in lebanon in favor of shiites. Wealthy christian and sunni muslim families fear losing their influence. Corruption and nepotism which are widespread in levanon have also served to guarantee many of them a luxurious lifestyle. For years the sunnis had hoped they could keep hezbollah under their control. Lebanons former sunni Prime Minister saad hariri was no exception he followed in the footsteps of his father rafi career. And just like his father he tried to unite the lebanese under sunni leadership to this and he was prepared to make concessions that has belonged. To. The billionaire building contrie curry was assassinated in 2005. Rafi kerry had been a beacon of hope not only for levanon and its National Agenda is a new unit he was also a figure with whom the sunnis identified the man who brought the cosmopolitan sunni elites back to the country well and who had also given greater emphasis to the sunni identity of lebanon model of. Saad hariri tolerance of the shia Hezbollah Movement did not go down well with saudi arabia the selfappointed protector of the cities. For years the saudis urged hurry to exert more pressure on hezbollah. The groups closeness to saudi arabias bitter rival iran was enough to win period the kingdom. Because i mean by the movie can fool the saudis were always eager to have a foot in the door to wield power in lebanon and theyve achieved this in diverse ways vajra Investments Property and government bonds that they purchased this out as big problem was that hariri who they placed so much faith in had not managed to suppress the interests of other powers in favor of saudi interests. Person. Really did nothing to rein in hezbollah then during a state visit to the saudi capital riyadh in november 2017 he suddenly announced his resignation in a statement that completely contradicted his previous political line. And any law out of the. I am stepping down because i cannot accept disappointing the lebanese people. Over the last few years and decades hezbollah with its arsenal has repeatedly presented us with a fait accompli has been that is sad enough. But then it claims that these weapons are for the resistance when in fact they are being used against our brothers in syria and yemen even against lebanese. Or you know many years. I didnt know any. So this day it remains unclear whether hariri was forced to step down but it took the intervention of french president emanuel before horary was able to leave saudi arabia once back in lebanon be rescinded his resignation these political machinations only serve to boost has been lost position a few months later the group had a strong showing in elections and a government led by hariri as ball law had 2 cabinet posts for the 1st time. Look at the 32 this is the only a position in the middle really refused to be part of the deed the managed to get the hezbollah to control the country. And today we are fighting alongside with a lot of independent personalities and the some groups from the Civil Society in order to form a large position to the to the way lebanon is being governed today. But perhaps the loudest opposition to the government has come from the streets with the countrys economy deteriorating fast hundreds of thousands turned out to protest on october 29th teens in beirut and across lebanon. They blamed the political elite for the countrys problems they demanded more jobs a working administration and called on the government to resign many protesters were hoping for an end to lebanons sectarian divisions and power structure hezbollah was quick to respond sending in its supporters to intimidate the protesters. Asanas rolla was once again in evidence i the police sought to keep the 2 sides apart but the peaceful demonstration soon descended into violence. On october 29th saad hariri resigned as Prime Minister the rest of the government remained in office including has lost 2 ministers. Despite repeated requests for an interview no representative of hezbollah was willing to talk to us so instead we met with yes seen shop there hes a shiite and a longstanding member of parliament. He sees has been law as indispensable. This is the woman who is the seen by many people as a part of the that the feed boxes that the liberty the lebanese their thirtys and the with all the threats continuously for the israelis the do all of. That there could be a at least the bell as the. Shop there has been a politician for many years and has also helped cabinet posts. He currently chairs the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs committee. When meeting with representatives of the Us Government or International Organizations like the world bank as seen here he resists all attempts to try to exert pressure on the lebanese government because it has been a lot. Washington is once again seeking to limit has full lost power and cut off its funding channels something job air finds inappropriate. To do is below 0 percent of the. Of. The films following the same bill that there was of the in government and they have a. Prison facial i mean theyre presenting. The chunk of people in the country so as lebanese i mean all the lebanese the factions have stayed to the moon. Raising this issue in the negative way or asking us to put pressure here over who will lead to a confrontation to a conflict with the cold flu. But even many who up until now except it has been a lot as a legitimate defender against israel are now realizing how dangerous the groups course could be for lebanon. Glorie high turnout is a popular blogger and activist she criticizes hezbollahs policy of sending its militia into conflicts elsewhere in the middle east because she believes it increases the chances of lebanon becoming embroiled in war. You have to swallow it is the Lebanese Hezbollah which defense going on. This is reality if and this in. The same time there is as valar would says the regional players and this is where the division comes. The fact that hezbollah has become a state within a state is perhaps only part of a wider problem faced by lebanon that of politics being defined by religion and. Laurie high tie on organizers meetings for women who want to bridge the divide between the religious groups. That are here christians and muslims are sitting at the same table. They believe this is the only way the country can progress. In the office so lets shovel live now to be and be the lebanese people have no voice in parliament apart from one or 2 politicians with a microphone in front of them of course everyone speaks the name of the lebanese people but in reality no one represents is. Only concerned with defending the interests of their particular religious group and even. Of ones you saw a lot has to be possible for us to live in this country and have our own convictions then there is hope of changing things but that can only happen if we challenge the political and sectarian regime we need a secular state which also respects the interests of Civil Society and the need that him and wants in the deep divisions within Lebanese Society have a long and violent history the challenge for any new reforms will be how to overcome them the explosion in beirut has thrown everything into question the government has resigned paving the way for new elections and the protesters are back out on the streets they want an end to the sectarian divisions that many blame for the destruction of their country. Instead of 1st group who could have. Been shut out of us as we are. Certainly. In support. Of all. The debris about. How does a virus spread. Why do we panic and when will all this have. To do through the topic from cover and the weekly radio show is called spectrum if you would like any information on the crown of virus or any other science topic you should really check out our podcast you can get it wherever you get your podcast you can also find us at d. F. W. Dot com look closely at science. This is g. W. Newtons law at the from berlin tonight russias top crippling critic alexina balding german doctors say he was poisoned the german chancellor says moscow asked to do something doctors treating the ball to hear enbrel. Test results point to a toxin affecting his nervous system. 24 hour police protection. Anyone accountable also coming up tonight president surprise appearance on day one of the Republican National convention as delegates formally back