Strategic Assessment

Hamas and Hizbollah are complex and multidimensional groups, simultaneously military organizations, political parties, and social movements. Analyzed by Western analysts primarily for their terrorist and military infrastructures and operations, these groups have also developed intricate social, political, and cultural structures to complement their military power. This article analyzes the current role and status of Hamas and Hizbollah within their respective political environments, presenting both similarities and differences between their situational features and evolutionary trends. It explores the impact of the Arab awakening on these groups’ evolutions. Finally, the essay discusses the security challenges these trends may pose to Israel and suggests how Israeli policies might respond to these trends most effectively.