BEIRUT, Lebanon: Lebanese Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said Wednesday he respects Israel for issuing a damning report on last year's war against his movement in Lebanon.

Speaking at a book fair in Beirut's southern suburbs, Nasrallah said: "It is worth every respect when an inquiry commission ... is appointed by (Prime Minister Ehud) Olmert ... and it condemns Olmert."

BEIRUT, Lebanon: Lebanese Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said Wednesday he respects Israel for issuing a damning report on last year's war against his movement in Lebanon.

Speaking at a book fair in Beirut's southern suburbs, Nasrallah said: "It is worth every respect when an inquiry commission ... is appointed by (Prime Minister Ehud) Olmert ... and it condemns Olmert."

Monday, the inquiry accused the three men - Olmert, (Defence Minister Amir) Peretz and (former army chief Dan) Halutz - of "serious failure" in handling the 34-day war sparked by Hezbollah's capture of two Israeli soldiers.

"They study their defeat in order to learn from it," unlike Arab states that "do not probe, do not ask, do not form inquiry commissions ... as if nothing has happened," Nasrallah said.

"It is a pity that we have to wait for an Israeli commission to confirm our victory.

"The first important result of the commission is that it has settled -- officially and for good -- the issue of victory and defeat," Nasrallah said. "The commission has admitted the defeat. The word 'defeat' has appeared more than 100 times" in its interim report.