French troops almost fired at Israel jets: minister (Reuters)

[Eugene]

French troops almost fired at Israel jets: minister

Nov 9, 2006 — PARIS (Reuters) - French peacekeeping troops in
Lebanon recently came within two seconds of firing missiles at Israeli
fighter jets that approached as if to attack them, French Defense
Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said.

Speaking to the lower house of parliament on Wednesday night,
she said this was the latest in a string of incidents in which Israeli
warplanes had "adopted a hostile attitude" to French and German
forces and said it was "not tolerable."

"A catastrophe was narrowly avoided by our troops," Alliot-Marie said,
according to a transcript of her comments. She did not say exactly
when or where the events took place.

Israeli F-15s descended rapidly and then rose quickly as if they were
dropping bombs or firing at the French ground forces, which are part
of U.N. peacekeeping force UNIFIL, she said.

-snip-

Full article: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2640384

[acmavm]

1. Interesting. Maybe that would teach them a lesson not to

think they can intimidate or try to intimidate everyone.

The day IS coming when some nation will not put up with their bravado bullshit anymore. The whole world doesn't kiss Israeli ass like we do, even if it means our own sailors die for it.

[bemildred]

2. Pissed off the Germans, now let's piss off the French.

It will be interesting to see if they get around to annoying the other UNIFIL contingents too.

[bemildred]

3. FRANCE SUMMONS ISRAELI AMBASSADOR OVER LEBANON INCIDENT

PARIS, Nov 9, 2006 (AFP) - The French government on Thursday summoned Israel's ambassador to Paris to complain about an incident in Lebanon in which Israeli warplanes dived menacingly on French UN peacekeepers, officials said.

---

The French troops had been within "two seconds" of firing on the aircraft and a "catastrophe" was narrowly avoided, French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said Wednesday.

Her ministry said the incident occurred October 31 but did not say where exactly.
France currently leads the UNIFIL, and is due to hand over command to Italy in February.

http://www.adetocqueville.com/200611091052.ka9aqsh21492.htm

[bemildred]

4. IDF checking French claim its UN troops almost fired at IAF jets

The Israel Defense Forces said Thursday it is checking French allegations that Israel Air Force F-15s flew in a threatening dive-bomb formation over French peacekeepers in southern Lebanon nine days ago.

A spokeswoman said, however, that the military was for the moment not commenting on the incident.

The French Foreign Ministry on Thursday summoned Israel's ambassador to France, Daniel Shek, for an explanation.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/785914.html

[breakaleg]

5. This is interesting. We've known for a while that Israel has no respect

for things like borders or their neighbours. Now we see they have no respect for other nations' peacekeeping forces they wanted their? I suppose we'll soon find out they hate Israel or other nonsense and that's the reason for all this. Perhaps they'll claim they are supporting Hezbollah.

[pelsar]

6. no respect for borders?...wrong again!!!

just ask jordan and egypt......they patrol their own borders, keep the terrorists from attacking israel as best they can, no threats...and wow, israel respects their borders.

funny thing about those borders: it shows proof how to live in peace with israel: simple formula: stop trying to kill israelis.
_____________________

and for those others like lebanon?....

lets see how that works: Lebanon today is still seeing arms being smuggled in Lebanon from syria for hizballa which has made it clear they will be attacking again.

The UN troops, who dont patrol at night arent doing a whole lot. at least not their job.

guess for some that means isael should just sit tight and let them kill and kidnap some additional israeli citizens, and not do recon

__________

you've mentioned that my writing "insults you" well its true i have a certain lack of patience when information is posted which is so obviously wrong..i also have little patience for writings the poster not only doesnt know what they're writing about, but never the less makes claims based on nothing more than wishful thinking and lastly....i have little patience that when asked about it....the poster then "disappears" without backing their accusations, only to make more.....

[bemildred]

7. France Demands Israel Stop Mock Raids

The French government demanded Thursday that Israel stop mock raids over Lebanon after French peacekeepers came within seconds of shooting down Israeli warplanes in what the defense minister called a near-catastrophe.

---

The incident incensed the French, drew attention to challenges facing the U.N. force and raised tensions three months into the shaky cease-fire that halted the Israel-Hezbollah war.

---

UNIFIL peacekeepers reported 14 Israeli air violations on Oct. 31, including three over the headquarters of the French battalion in the southern Lebanese town of Froun.

"It appears that these flights were deliberate. UNIFIL strongly protested to the Israeli authorities and asked them to cease these actions," said Milos Strugar, senior adviser to the UNIFIL commander.

http://www.forbes.com/technology/feeds/ap/2006/11/09/ap3160509.html

[pelsar]

8. i shall refrain from making a sarcastic comment....

French peacekeepers came within seconds of shooting down Israeli warplanes.....but it is tempting....

[bemildred]

9. I'm just wondering what the diplomatic dog and pony show is about.

This is one of these things where you have stories coming out and reiterating something that happened a week ago, and you wonder why they want to keep attention on it. This has been going on for a while now, first with Germany, now with France, watch to see if Italy is next.

[pelsar]

10. I tend to agree with you....

its "behind the scenes"..the pilots are doing what they've been ordered to do....the IAF is a very disciplined bunch....i think its diplomats "playing" games using the armed forces.....

[bemildred]

11. 12 Israeli jets violate Lebanese airspace as Paris seethes over mock attacks

Twelve Israeli jets violated Lebanese airspace on Thursday, a few hours after Paris summoned Israel's ambassador in protest over Israeli warplanes diving on French UN peacekeepers in the South, the Lebanese Army said. The fighter-bombers entered Lebanon at 12:25 p.m. and flew high over the coastal town of Naqoura, headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) near the borders with Israel, an army statement said.

They then flew over other Southern regions before flying at a lower altitude over the eastern city of Baalbek, the army added. The 12 planes left Lebanese airspace at 1 p.m. after flying over Tripoli and Akkar in the North.

---

The Israeli military on Thursday said it had no knowledge of any such incident. Defense Minister Amir Peretz has said the overflights were necessary to monitor what he charged was continuing arms smuggling by Hizbullah.

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud said on Thursday that Israel wanted to "take revenge on Lebanon after its humiliating withdrawal from South Lebanon in 2000."

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=76800

[breakaleg]

12. I think they should shoot at them next time. Israel is playing games and

feels secure that they won't. They need a wake-up call.

[bemildred]

13. We will see.

May be internal Israeli politics, someone using this method to attack Olmert for example, or Peretz. I don't really know. Could be some pea-brained attempt to "send a message" to UNIFIL, such things are not new. It would get really interesting if they shot one down, although I am not sure they have the means to do it.

[breakaleg]

14. I think they've already sent several messaged to UNIFIL.

And Israel on occasion gets their hand slapped, but nothing changes. What is it going to take for Israel to respect their boudaries?

I'm just tired of hearing excuses and apoligies - both ring a little empty to me.

[bemildred]

15. Well, yeah. nt

[bemildred]

16. The thing is this: do the UNIFIL troops have the means and will to

defend themselves, to give a good account of themselves? They are supposed to in some versions, but maybe this is intended to find out what the case is. Is there political will behind them or not? If I had to guess, that is what this is about.

[breakaleg]

17. Yes.

It seems the French and German troops there today, aren't under the same restrictions as the ones there this summer. Or at least, they believe they aren't under the same restrictions.

It will be interesting to see if anything comes of it.

[bemildred]

18. So far, it is all talk and posturing.

"Do you feel lucky Kid?"

[bemildred]

19. UN renews call for Israel to end IAF flights over Lebanon

The United Nations renewed a plea to Israel on Friday to stop violating Lebanese airspace with surveillance flights that Israel insists are
needed to guard against arms smuggling from Syria.

The United Nations says such flights, conducted regularly by Israeli warplanes for years, are a clear violation of the cease-fire resolution adopted by the UN Security Council in August to end the 34-day Israel-Hezbollah war.

"The resolution is clear," UN chief spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. "We have asked them to cease these violations," Dujarric said, adding that strong UN protests were filed each time they occurred.

The French Foreign Ministry said earlier on Friday that it hoped the United States, Israel's closest ally, would put pressure on Israel to end the flights after French peacekeepers this week nearly launched missiles at Israeli jets flying in an attack mode over their outpost.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/786469.html