A new survey of Lebanon’s Shiite community found that nearly two-thirds support some form of agreement with Israel, while a similar majority favor transferring Hezbollah’s weapons to the Lebanese state under some arrangement.

The poll, conducted in September by Statistics Lebanon among 800 Shiite respondents, found that 63.3% support an agreement with Israel and 66.4% back placing Hezbollah’s arsenal under state control.

The findings present a complicated picture for the terrorist organization, with continued support for Hezbollah alongside substantial backing for changes to its military role and Lebanon’s relationship with Israel.

Asked about the outcome of the war, 67.4% said Hezbollah had either failed to achieve its objectives or achieved only some of them. Another 42.1% expressed disappointment, anger or concern over the conduct of its leadership.

The Lebanese Army received considerably stronger support as the institution responsible for the country’s security. Overall, 78.5% expressed confidence in the army, and 51.1% viewed it as the principal guarantor of Lebanon’s long-term security.

Only 16.5% assigned that central security role to Hezbollah.

The survey also found that 71.1% believe decisions concerning war and peace should be made exclusively by Lebanon’s national leadership, rather than independently by Hezbollah.

However, the results do not indicate a wholesale rejection of the organization within the Shiite community. Some 37.1% still expressed a high degree of trust in Hezbollah, while another 22.4% expressed some trust.

The findings suggest that confidence in Hezbollah can coexist with support for state authority over its weapons and decisions on war, as well as openness to an arrangement with Israel.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)