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Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah stepped up his fiery rhetoric against Israel, warning the Jewish state not to contemplate another war with Lebanon, like the previous one in July 2006, because the next war will be much costlier.Nasrallah was careful to note, in another recent speech, that his group would participate in the current Gaza conflict "morally, but not physically."  But, this time he alluded to the eventual possibility of a conflict in which Hezbollah would fight.

"What is happening [in Gaza], today concerns us all, especially since all eyes, inside Lebanon and outside, are watching us," he said. "It is not clear how powerful are the forces against us or their will to take us on, so we must be prepared for all eventualities and always be ready to react at any moment."

Professor Sami Baroudi, of Beirut's Lebanese American University, however, thinks Nasrallah is quite pragmatic and will avoid another conflict with Israel, because the group does not want to antagonize foes or friends in Lebanon.

"... one has to be concerned, because it is not just Hezbollah and Israel. There may be other parties that have an interest in escalating. But I do not think there is a reason to be overly concerned," said Baroudi. "I think there is a consensus in Lebanon that this is not the time to start something that may really ... >>>