Al Manar takes credit for Israeli pullout from Lebanon
By Magda Abu-Fadil Posted Fri, Dec 1 2000
More than half a century after Japan’s Tokyo Rose strived to demoralize the United States through English-language radio broadcasts, Hezbollah and its television station claim credit for ousting Israel from south Lebanon after 22 years of occupation. They continue to provide the Israelis with Hebrew-language programs in support of various Arab and Muslim causes.
“Without Al Manar, victory would have been elusive,” boasts a rhyming bumper sticker in Arabic, distributed by Hezbollah, or Party of God, about the painful human losses its guerrillas inflicted on Israeli troops.
Referring to Grapes of Wrath, a major Israeli incursion into Lebanon, Nayef Krayyem, Al Manar’s CEO, says: “In 1996, for the first time we shocked the Israelis with our Hebrew broadcasts and pulled the rug from under them.”
Israel claimed that Grapes of Wrath was a retaliation against Lebanese guerrilla operations. Hezbollah not only fought back militarily but countered Israeli Arabic-language broadcasts with Hebrew programs, aimed at frightening Lebanese citizens along the border.
Al Manar (the name stands for “the landmark”) is the only Lebanese medium broadcasting in Hebrew.
“For foreign journalists in Lebanon, Al Manar’s 7:45 p.m. Arabic newscast has been de rigueur and was especially so before the (Israeli) withdrawal,” says a correspondent for an international news agency who requested anonymity, adding that the guerrilla war couldn’t have been won without Hezbollah’s media.
“They gained credibility with the masses and recruited more followers through their reports, and Israeli analysts always depicted the weakness of the Israelis against the resistance and its Hebrew broadcasts,” the correspondent says. “It’s a testament to their effectiveness.”
Al Manar, which first went on the air in 1991, a year after the end of Lebanon’s civil war, may lack the resources and glamour of American networks, but it’s no slouch in acquiring and using state-of-the-art technology to promote its Islamic ideals.
“It began under pressure of need and with limited means in Beirut’s southern suburbs, but in 1997 it became officially licensed so we could invest more in the operation,” says Krayyem, referring to the initial mission of countering Israel’s military and media presence in Lebanon.
Prior to Lebanon’s 15-year war, only one government-run TV station with three channels was in operation. The civil strife spawned several unlicensed outlets representing various religious and political factions, most of which were later legalized.
Al Manar’s hardscrabble, undercover beginnings can be traced to the war era. Its recent expansion has included a new building fitted with modern studios and facilities to provide satellite broadcasts in 2001.
The station’s anchors and presenters are all bearded men or veiled women, and the programs must meet standards of decency and Hezbollah political correctness.
“One phase (the occupation) may have ended, but our struggle isn’t over since we also have social, economic and educational goals,” says Krayyem of the countless Hezbollah-financed or backed organizations that have filled a void left by an absent government, notably in the regions formerly occupied by Israelis.
The once inaccessible bastion of Hezbollah communications is no longer that difficult to penetrate, albeit under the watchful eyes of armed guards and closed-circuit TV cameras. To enter, visitors need identification tags, a computer- coded elevator access key and escorts.
Al Manar’s annual budget equals that of most Lebanese TV stations, says Krayyem without specifying the figure. He adds that it costs about US$10-$15 million to run the station. He insists Al Manar’s income comes mostly from advertising and sales.
Ten percent of the budget is spent on news, 20 percent on political programs, 25 percent on cultural/religious shows, 20 percent on serials, 10 percent on sports, 10 percent on children’s shows and the rest on advertising and miscellaneous fare.
There is no shortage of advertising on Al Manar’s programs, but it has to meet strict criteria.
“No alcoholic beverages, no tobacco products, and we reject anything that depicts women as saleable commodities,” says Krayyem.
Not resting on its laurels, Al Manar continuously upgrades its journalists’ and technicians’ qualifications through training sessions, with the help of Reuters and the Thomson Foundation.
Magda Abu-Fadil
Magda Abu-Fadil is director of university publications and coordinator of the journalism program at the Lebanese American University. She is a 25-year veteran of the international news business and spent her career covering Washington and the Middle East.