Are some members of Lebanon’s Shiite community beginning to fear Israel more than they fear Hezbollah? Is Hezbollah becoming a liability rather than an asset for Nabih Berri and the Amal Movement? A series of confrontations in Shiite villages affiliated with Amal, local opposition to Hezbollah’s military presence, and emerging differences between the leaderships of the two movements may indicate the beginning of a shift. The fear of another war, the expansion of Israeli ground operations into the Nabatieh area and further north, and the potential loss of homes and livelihoods could alter the balance of fear. This is not a Shiite uprising against Hezbollah, but rather the possible emergence of a sentiment favoring the removal of Hezbollah from civilian areas and communities affiliated with Amal. Is the realization beginning to take hold among Nabih Berri and his associates that Hezbollah poses a greater threat to the Shiite community than the protection it claims to provide? Could the fear of another war with Israel succeed in restricting Hezbollah’s activities in Shiite areas that are not part of the organization’s core support base? Read more in Alma Research and Education Center’s special report. israel-alma.org/special-repo…