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Last update - 07:21 01/05/2007
Hezbollah: Winograd report is proof we were victorious
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies

Hezbollah on Monday hailed a report into the Second Lebanon War, which accused the Israeli leadership of serious failures during the conflict, calling it proof that the guerilla group had been "victorious" in the summer fighting.

The 34-day war was triggered by a July 12 Hezbollah cross-border attack in which two Israel Defense Forces soldiers were abducted and eight others killed.

"The Winograd report stressed that Hezbollah was victorious and that Israel is beatable," a senior spokesman for the Iranian-backed group told the organization's Al-Manar television channel.
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Nawaf Musawi, head of international relations for Hezbollah, called the war a "divine victory" against Israel. He said that the report proves that senior Israeli officials had underestimated Hezbollah's power, adding that "no one will take us lightly from now on, especially since we have only gained strength of late."

The Winograd report has political implications in Lebanon other than giving Hezbollah a weapon to use against the present government.

Musawi said that the report contradicts Beirut officials who claimed that the war had hurt Lebanon and was not won by Hezbollah.

"They say that Hezbollah didn't win and that Israel didn't lose. So maybe they also think there is no need for this report?"

Hezbollah had viewed the January resignation of former IDF chief Dan Halutz as an achievement, and is now following the political situation in Israel and assessing the chances that the Olmert government will fall.

Musawi said, however, that the United States would not permit friendly governments to collapse.

"Will the Israeli society succeed in toppling this weak unpopular government? We will see."

The Arab media networks dealt at length with the Winograd report and its consequences for Israel's political echelons. The press also covered the rallies that took place in Israel on Monday, and reported on the options that the Israeli government now has.

Earlier Monday, Hezbollah's most senior political officer in southern Lebanon said the report confirmed Israel's failure to defeat the group, and speculated on Olmert's chances for political survival.

"The report confirmed the inability of the Israeli political and military leadership to... confront Hezbollah," said Sheik Hassan Ezzeddine.

He predicted that political, public and military pressure would eventually force Olmert to step down.

"Olmert will not be able to stay put in the face of pressure from the military, opposition parties and the Israeli public," he said.

Palestinian officials, however, expressed concern that the report would undermine Olmert and likely limit his ability to push forward with peace efforts.

"We hope that this report and the findings of this report will not further complicate and hinder attempts to revive the peace process," said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.



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      1.   Probably right 23:39  |  W 30/04/07
      2.   Hezbollah is the victor? 23:46  |  Stephen 30/04/07
      3.   Hezbollah on Winograd: Proof 00:07  |  Fred 01/05/07
      4.   Hezbollah-Winorgad Proves Hez Won War 00:17  |  Howzie O`Toole 01/05/07
      5.   It is obvious that the arabs won! 00:19  |  Egyptian Soldier 01/05/07
      6.   More Arab childishness 00:27  |  McQueen 01/05/07
      7.   If the war didn`t hurt Lebanon, why all the crying? 00:30  |  McQueen 01/05/07
      8.   Just Cause Socrates is a man Doesn`t Mean... 00:30  |  Dyinglikeflies 01/05/07
      9.   Hezbollah wins the prize for being violent, inhuman barbarians. 00:31  |  Robert Finkelstein 01/05/07
      10.   If hezz one, then tell me why... 00:33  |  moses 01/05/07
      11.   Two clowns 00:33  |  Arthur 01/05/07
      12.   Next time 00:42  |  israeli 01/05/07
      13.   Of Course Hiz Bullah Won 00:45  |  Lee Kaplan 01/05/07
      14.   Olmert War 00:46  |  Just Peace 01/05/07
      15.   WHY Hezbollah wants the opposition 00:51  |  israeli 01/05/07
      16.   Hezbollah 01:13  |  BRL 01/05/07
      17.   Poor Hizbollah struck with a divine blindness 01:18  |  PB 01/05/07
      18.   Think what you want... 01:42  |  Moe 01/05/07
      19.   What a stupid joke!! 01:48  |  ScotGuy 01/05/07
      20.   Probably Right? 02:01  |  Ted Grigg 01/05/07
      21.   more propaganda from terrorist Hizbollah 02:10  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/05/07
      22.   What were the results? 02:17  |  natan 01/05/07
      23.   Hezbollah was victorius 02:21  |  rl 01/05/07
      24.   Comfort 02:35  |  Alex 01/05/07
      25.   Report/ Hezbollah 02:55  |  John Claus 01/05/07
      26.   Musawi is absolutely right 03:17  |  Johnboy 01/05/07
      27.   But You Lost The Next War Nasrallah 03:20  |  Yoram 01/05/07
      28.   victorious 03:47  |  Shmuelshachor 01/05/07
      29.   #9 03:51  |  shalum 01/05/07
      30.   letony river dam 04:17  |  alfred youngberg 01/05/07
      31.   Egyptian Soldier and Other Loads of Crock 04:34  |  y 01/05/07
      32.   Concessions are "painful" because they are wrong 04:44  |  Chaim 01/05/07
      33.   Hezbollah 04:48  |  Jason 01/05/07
      34.   Egyptian soldier: you remind me of Nasser in `67 04:56  |  Peter Burman 01/05/07
      35.   Proves what? 05:26  |  Eldar 01/05/07
      36.   the hezbollah won the war??? 05:31  |  maria 01/05/07
      37.   egyptian soldier... 05:35  |  maria 01/05/07
      38.   in arab dictionary ceasefire means 05:42  |  maria 01/05/07
      39.   shalum....are you a jew supporting palestinians. 06:02  |  maria 01/05/07
      40.   This just shows their ignorance of Democracy 06:24  |  Steve G 01/05/07
      41.   Poor Lebanese 07:39  |  PS 01/05/07
      42.   maria? 08:06  |  shalum 01/05/07
      43.   When was the last time Arabs lost a war?Ever? 08:11  |  PETER. S.M 01/05/07
      44.   i am a human being 08:14  |  shalum 01/05/07
      45.   let`s put up a committee... 08:22  |  saul a. readner 01/05/07
      46.   When was the last time tha Arabs lost a war? or were wrong? 08:54  |  PETER SM 01/05/07
      47.   "Victorious" HIZB: Look at Lebanon. Ruines for decades.Victorry?? 09:02  |  Vittorio 01/05/07
      48.   Stephen, Big difference between Hez and Israel 09:13  |  gus 01/05/07
      49.   To all those Questioning Hezbollah`s Victory I 09:19  |  An Arab Neighbor 01/05/07
      50.   Maria, let me explain to you Muslim Mentality 09:22  |  gus 01/05/07
      51.   #39 Typical Zionist Racism, Maria 09:22  |  Lee Kaplan 01/05/07
      52.   To all those Questioning Hezbollah`s Victory II 09:25  |  An Arab Neighbor 01/05/07
      53.   To Steve We Are Around And well 09:32  |  Samir Salameh 01/05/07
      54.   And as a reply to most of you out there... 09:33  |  An Arab Neighbor 01/05/07
      55.   There was a similar investigation in `73. We lose that one? 09:49  |  David Teich 01/05/07
      56.   #4o is right on! 09:53  |  sallyz 01/05/07
      57.   #29 (Shalum) 09:56  |  Wissam 01/05/07
      58.   To Mr Kaplan , your a Mashoogana 10:03  |  Adam 01/05/07
      59.   I KNEW IT SINCE DAY ONE 10:36  |  indrajaya 01/05/07
      60.   Hesbollah should not be gleeful...... 10:43  |  Esther 01/05/07
      61.   Who won? 11:17  |  Avi 01/05/07
      62.   `Winning` a pile of rubble & a wrecked economy... 11:19  |  Rufus 01/05/07
      63.   "THE LADY NASRALLAH DOTH PROTEST TOO MUCH" 11:21  |  Ben 01/05/07
      64.   Hi, Hi, Hezbollah..... 11:27  |  Swiss (Dino) 01/05/07
      65.   # 62, RUFUS 11:34  |  indrajaya 01/05/07
      66.   I admire your looking on the bright side! 11:38  |  An Arab Neighbor 01/05/07
      67.   Yes, Mr Teich, Israel did lose in `1973 11:44  |  Avi 01/05/07
      68.   The real "victors" are the... 11:47  |  Maureen Ann 01/05/07
      69.   # 64, SWISS (DINO) 11:53  |  indrajaya 01/05/07
      70.   Swiss Martin`s correct logic 11:56  |  Rufus 01/05/07
      71.   Arab Naighbour.making up your own rules then saying- we won 12:14  |  PETER.SM 01/05/07
      72.   Vae victor! 12:34  |  Yonatan 01/05/07