UNIFIL reiterates demand for end to Israeli overflights
By Agence France Presse (AFP)
Friday, November 30, 2007
TYRE: The United Nations on Thursday called on Israel to halt its violations of Lebanese airspace, following several days of intensive overflights. "We have noticed intensive Israeli overflights over the last few days ... and we have asked that they be stopped," Yasmina Bouziane, spokeswoman for the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), told AFP.
The overflights "not only constitute a violation of Lebanese sovereignty, but also of [UN Security Council] Resolution 1701," she said.
Bouziane said the Israeli overflights "harm the credibility of the United Nations and the Lebanese Army in the eyes of the residents and harm efforts to ease tension" in the region.
"We have filed reports to the UN Security Council" on the overflights and UNIFIL commander Major General Claudio Graziano has raised the issue with the Israeli Army command, she said. "He expressed his serious concern over these violations and asked that they be stopped," she said.
Earlier this month, Israeli warplanes also staged intensive flights over southern Lebanon, triggering anti-aircraft fire from the Lebanese Army.
Such overflights are a violation of Resolution 1701 which brought an end to the 34-day war launched by Israel against Lebanon in July-August 2006 in response to a border incident.
The UN has repeatedly denounced Israel's overflights as undermining the credibility of UN peacekeepers posted in South Lebanon and efforts to stabilize the region. - AFP
Source : Daily Star / AFP
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