HIZBALLAH PUBLICLY RECRUITING COLLEGE STUDENTS FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000851

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR IO A/S BRIMMER
P FOR DRUSSELL, RRANGASWAMY
DRL/NESA FOR WHITMAN, BARGHOUT
USUN FOR WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER
NSC FOR SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT
DOD/OSD FOR FLOURNOY/KAHL/DALTON
OVP FOR HMUSTAFA
PARIS FOR JMILLER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINR PTER SOCI LE
SUBJECT: HIZBALLAH PUBLICLY RECRUITING COLLEGE STUDENTS FOR
SUMMER CAMP, INCLUDES MILITARY TRAINING

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Denise Herbol for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).

SUMMARY AND COMMENT
--------------


1. (C) Publicly-available brochures and radio advertisements
in early July confirm Hizballah is actively recruiting
college students to participate in a "summer camp." The
camp's activities include cultural, educational, religious
and political discussions and activities. In addition, one
"boys only" session implies military training at an
undisclosed location for 11 days. No Lebanese officials have
questioned the content or conduct of these camps and
Hizballah's recruitment and outreach activities continue
unabated. End summary and comment.


2. (SBU) Poloffs learned July 27 that Hizballah was publicly
recruiting college students, via pamphlets and radio, to
participate in a summer camp scheduled to begin July 17 at
the "Al-Qaim" compound (nfi). According to our NGO
interlocutors, the pamphlets were available in public meeting
spaces, such as mosques or schools, in Beirut's southern
suburbs (the Dahiye) that are a Hizballah stronghold. The
radio advertisements were broadcast on Hizballah's radio
network, "Noor," and included a contact telephone number to
obtain additional information.


3. (SBU) The brochure details cultural, educational,
religious, and political discussions and activities. For
example, a discussion of Hizballah's "vision of Lebanon as a
state" and English and French language instruction were among
the activities offered. In addition, the program included
one module related to "mobilization" or "recruitment" with
sessions open to both girls and boys. However, one session
within this module was reserved for "boys only," to occur at
an undisclosed location over the course of 11 days. Our
interlocutors advised us that this "boys only" session
implied military training, without being specifically labeled
as such. The program and advertisement were coordinated by
Hizballah's educational division, according to the
advertisement. (Note A scanned version of the pamphlet
provided to the Embassy by one of our NGO interlocutors has
been sent to NEA/ELA for reference. End note.)


4. (C) Embassy contacts tell us this is not the first time
that Hizballah has organized such camps for college students.
However, the last time they recalled seeing advertisements
for such camps was in 2006. Hizballah, which also operates
an ongoing "Scouts" organization for younger students,
actively continues its recruitment and outreach efforts in
public view. However, neither Lebanese municipal nor state
authorities have challenged either the content or conduct of
Hizballah's summer camp.
HERBOL