JERUSALEM, May 9 (Reuters) - Israeli President Shimon Peres played down Israeli concerns at Hezbollah's move to expand its control in Beirut on Friday but said he hoped the Lebanese people would step back from the brink of civil war.

"It's not a total surprise. We knew that Hezbollah is going to divide the country and lead it to the verge of a civil war," Israel's elder statesman told reporters.

"It has nothing to do with Israel. It's an internal split," Peres said. "It's a tragedy for them. It's a tragedy for all of us. And I hope that at the last moment they will save themselves from a bloody civil war."

Two years ago, Israel went to war with Hezbollah after it captured two Israeli soldiers in a border raid. (Reporting by Adam Entous, writing by Alastair Macdonald)

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