Inside Story

Hezbollah talks tough

The group has called for a boycott of the tribunal investigating the assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri.

Hezbollah has called for a boycott of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), the UN investigation into the assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri, the late Lebanese prime minister.

Reports suggest that some members of the movement could be indicted by the tribunal, with which the Lebanese government has cooperated since it was established.

Hezbollah, however, consider the assassination to be an internal matter and have called for a local investigation into it. Hassan Nasrallah, the group’s leader, says information from the investigation is being passed on to the group’s arch rival – Israel.

So, has Hezbollah moved on to the offensive? What role might regional powers play in escalating or defusing the rising tensions within Lebanon?

Inside Story, with presenter Darren Jordon, discusses with guests: Saleh Machnouk, a political analyst and columnist; Thabet Salem, a political commentator; and Kenneth Katzman, an analyst with the Congressional Research Service (CRS).

This episode of Inside Story aired on Friday, October 29, 2010.