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Relatives of a man killed during confrontations between government and opposition supporters carrying his coffin next to a poster of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut on January 26. (AP)
Last update - 19:36 03/02/2007
Report: Nasrallah says attacking Israel may have been a mistake
By Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondent

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah admitted that the group's attack against Israeli soldiers July 12 may have been a mistake, an Egyptian human rights activist said Saturday.

"It could be that I made a mistake, only God doesn't make mistakes, and for that I apologized before the Lebanese nation and for that we paid a very heavy price in blood. [Nonetheless,] We do not hesitate to bring our boys into our just struggle," Nasrallah reportedly said.

The activist, Dr. Sa'ad al-Din Ibrahim, said he met Nasrallah several days ago in Lebanon.

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Ibrahim, a vocal critic of the Egyptian regime, is among the founders of the Arab Organization for Human Rights and head of the Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies.

Ibrahim recounted his meeting with Nasrallah to the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai al-A'am.

He said Nasrallah rejected claims that he is aiming to become a leader of the Arab or Islamic worlds, or even of Lebanon.

"My agenda is based on one principle: removing the discrimination suffered by Shiites in Lebanon and to turn the Shiites into real partners in the work and leadership of the state. As well, removing the Israeli threat," he said.

According to Ibrahim, Nasrallah also rejected comparisons between him and former Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser - who in 1952 led a military officers' coup against the existing government - and of this summer's war against Israel to the Suez Crisis of 1956, in which Egypt suffered heavy losses by Israel, Britain and France but obtained control of the Suez Canal.

"There is no room for comparison between Nasser and any other Arab leader in our time - Nasser led a historic revolution and became the leader of the largest Arab country. In the Suez War he achieved results on a global scale, but my aspirations do not extend beyond the Lebanese arena," he said.

According to Ibrahim, Nasrallah said his organization is willing to accept aid from any source - not only Iran but also Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

He said that Nasrallah told him other things as well, which the Hezbollah leader asked not be released until they are authorized by the group's "Shura" council.

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  1.   A mistake that has cost the lives of so many, but does Nasrallah 19:02  |  Nadav 03/02/07
  2.   Nasrallah, maybe you made another mistake 19:04  |  bv 03/02/07
  3.   The Law of the Jungle 19:14  |  semsem 03/02/07
  4.   Nasrallah willing to accept aid 19:21  |  Richard 03/02/07
  5.   Israeli Threat ???? 19:53  |  Avrum 03/02/07
  6.   Has Hezbollah started building bunkers for civilians yet? 19:55  |  Gina 03/02/07
  7.   Nothing new in this report 19:58  |  Mark Lincoln 03/02/07
  8.   Nasrallah tries to buy votes... 20:00  |  Avi 03/02/07
  9.   Your Allah made a mistake 20:13  |  Romeo 03/02/07
  10.   finally Nasrallah admits his mistake 20:24  |  Joey 03/02/07
  11.   response to #4 Richard 20:24  |  Kipperraes 03/02/07
  12.   Nasrallah just another one 20:25  |  Joe Sittizen 03/02/07
  13.   A message to Sheikh Nasrallah: 20:32  |  From Saadat 03/02/07
  14.   nasrallah 20:34  |  michel 03/02/07
  15.   Nasrallah BBC in August 2006 20:40  |  Lynn 03/02/07
  16.   Mossad propaganda to time with Olmert testimony 20:41  |  Joe 03/02/07
  17.   NASRALLAH, RELEASE THE IDF SOLDIERS 20:58  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/02/07
  18.   Nadav, we understand that Israeli cannot accept honesty. 21:04  |  gus 03/02/07
  19.   Joe Ramallah 21:10  |  Edifice 03/02/07
  20.   Joe in Ramallah 21:10  |  Lynn 03/02/07
  21.   israel needs to finish hiz off 21:13  |  kathy 03/02/07
  22.   Joe Mossad propaganda-there is something in it 21:21  |  Saadat 03/02/07
  23.   #12, calling Judea and Samaria Palestine is the propaganda 21:21  |  David 03/02/07
  24.   Semsm, Nasrhalla is not the coward. 21:22  |  gus 03/02/07
  25.   Nasrallah is weak, afraid to make peace 21:25  |  David 03/02/07
  26.   Richard you are reading a lot of lies 21:27  |  gus 03/02/07
  27.   #5--ugh 21:42  |  Jason_M 03/02/07
  28.   re #4 `Nasrallah willing to accept aid` 22:41  |  Colin Wright 03/02/07
  29.   # 20 gus 22:44  |  Lynn 03/02/07
  30.   Gus Salaam 22:47  |  Ben Gurion 03/02/07
  31.   Mark Lincoln 22:50  |  Danite 03/02/07
  32.   The un reported news 22:52  |  Najdt 03/02/07
  33.   Romeo, completely out of line 22:58  |  Tareq 03/02/07
  34.   Nasrallah, Don`t Be So Conceited As To Covet This Mistake, ... 23:01  |  Lavi 03/02/07
  35.   Double faced Nasrallah 23:01  |  William 03/02/07
  36.   nasrallah 23:09  |  NAS THE GREAT 03/02/07
  37.   Gus - you act like Lebanon is demilitarized #24 23:10  |  William 03/02/07
  38.   Never an Israeli threat 23:16  |  Bounce 03/02/07
  39.   HAHAH - Gus thinks the IDF back is broken? #26 23:18  |  William 03/02/07
  40.   Colin Wright - quotes the book of monkey`s #28 23:23  |  William 03/02/07
  41.   ISRAEL LOST LOL LOL 23:31  |  TOBIA 03/02/07
  42.   "Remove the Israeli threat." to world peace! 23:37  |  Maureen Ann 03/02/07
  43.   Nasrallah you made no Mistake! 23:39  |  Al 03/02/07
  44.   gus #26 23:41  |  the truth 03/02/07
  45.   Dumb War 23:47  |  Dennis Gordon 03/02/07
  46.   tell syria and Iran you wont do their bidding 23:49  |  zionist forever 03/02/07
  47.   "Victorious" NASRALLAH-HEZBOLLAH admits his mistake. Wasn`t his 23:53  |  Vittorio 03/02/07
  48.   Gus, ranting will not conceal the facts 00:01  |  Smearnov 04/02/07
  49.   Analysis-whya mistake 00:08  |  Joseph 04/02/07
  50.   Nasrallah: Victory and a mistake 00:10  |  GK 04/02/07
  51.   Been There Said That 00:19  |  Paulo 04/02/07
  52.   Why did he meet Nassrallah !? 00:31  |  Najdt 04/02/07
  53.   All rather ironic 00:38  |  Rufus 04/02/07
  54.   #7, Mark: "His mistake was" 00:44  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 04/02/07
  55.   nasrallah:" i apologise" 00:47  |  sassoon 04/02/07
  56.   tosefta compare and contrast the palestinian and hizballah 00:51  |  sassoon 04/02/07
  57.   #24 gus real cowards (2nd try) 00:59  |  the truth 04/02/07
  58.   Mark Lincoln, Israel was rational in defending its self 01:20  |  steve 04/02/07
  59.   Gus 01:26  |  Avrum 04/02/07
  60.   Gus, Nasrallah micalculated and he is paying the price. Hisb 01:28  |  Steve 04/02/07
  61.   Since Nasrallah is willing to accept aid from any source... 01:49  |  Observer 04/02/07
  62.   To Gus 01:49  |  Swedish truth 04/02/07
  63.   Gus 02:08  |  Avrum 04/02/07
  64.   Its property not lives 02:15  |  arun 04/02/07
  65.   OLMERT LOST THE WAR BECAUSE HE IS A LEFTIST DEFEATIST 02:16  |  DAN ROSENTHAL 04/02/07
  66.   to nadav 02:31  |  sunni 04/02/07
  67.   Mistakes are made with an offer to rectify 02:53  |  Ronnie Wolman 04/02/07
  68.   gus again 03:17  |  France 04/02/07
  69.   Look at Beirut...He made a big mistake 03:20  |  Ryan 04/02/07
  70.   hey gus stuck inside your thimble 03:57  |  Larzbeach 04/02/07
  71.   #43 Al, I love posters like you 05:17  |  Gretch 04/02/07
  72.   Of course Arabs are worth more than Israelis RIGHT ??? 06:11  |  M. Segal 04/02/07
  73.   So even the pompous Nasrallah admits what everyone in Lebanon has 06:27  |  Marwan مروان خوري 04/02/07
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