Professor Madawi Al Rasheed

As Israel’s onslaught on Lebanon is allowed to enter its second week, Saudi statements continue to condemn Hizb Allah’s adventurism, which they hold responsible for the ensuing death and destruction in Lebanon. Enraged Muslims, including some Saudis, have interpreted this un-fraternal madness as yet another case of Saudi pandering to the US and its allies. On closer inspection, this view appears superficial. The real source of Saudi condemnation is a much deeper fear of Hizb Allah, who is seen to represent a much greater threat than Israel itself.

On 23 June this year, Saudis in Riyadh’s al-Nakhil neighbourhood woke up to count several bodies drenched in blood after a street battle between Jihadis and security forces.

Such scenes have become familiar to the residents of Saudi cities, and the interior ministry spokesman announced that the battle marked a victory over the group “that has gone astray” – the contemporary Kharijites of the Saudi regime, who have turned sleepy neighbourhoods into battlegrounds.