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Middle East
Assad lets Hezbollah clerics preach in Alawite
2003-01-15
Syrian president Bashar Assad has started to allow Shi'ite clerics, some identified with Hezbollah, to preach in Alawite centers in Syria. The Israeli defense establishment regards the new practice as further evidence of his close ties with Hezbollah, especially with the organization's leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Assad allowed the Lebanese clerics to preach in religious centers in an area considered an Alawite stronghold, near Aleppo. A senior Israeli defense official said: "President Hafez Assad would be spinning in his grave if he knew of his son's connections to Hezbollah and the Iranians."
The ruling Alawites are a minority sect of Islam in Syria - some 10 percent of the population - but they been the controlling power in the regime for three decades. They originally split from the Shi'ites, but ties remain between the two Islamic sects. In the past, Shi'ite clerics from Lebanon did travel to Syria but Bashar Assad has broken with tradition by allowing them to preach openly in Ansaria, the Alawite stronghold near Aleppo. Since inheriting the presidency from his father two-and-a-half years ago, Bashar Assad has developed close ties with Nasrallah, meeting him often and coming under his influence regarding the conflict with Israel. Some Israeli intelligence officials believe Assad looks up to Nasrallah, who is a few years older, as an elder brother figure.
Interesting and dangerous development
Posted by:Steve

#1  A violent organization like Hezbollah would hardly exist in Syria, under any other status than complete state control. There is a growing "Assyrian" identity movement that will grow exponentially with each Alawite genuflection to Iran.
Posted by: Anonymous   2003-01-15 14:03:09  

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