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UN observers look through binoculars at the divided border village of Ghajar, Lebanon on Thursday. (AP)
Last update - 11:52 10/11/2006
Israel, U.S. ponder new ways to collect intelligence in Lebanon
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent

Israel and the United States are considering alternative methods for collecting intelligence in Lebanon that would replace the overflights of Lebanese airspace by Israel Air Force jets.

"We do not want to embarrass the government of Lebanon and create tensions with the states who deployed, at our request, troops to the United Nations force. If a solution can be found that would not require the overflights, and we could have another means to learn what goes on over there perfect," a senior political source in Jerusalem said Thursday.

"If they will find a way to provide us with the information, that will be a very good solution," the source added.
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Among the possible alternatives to the overflights of IAF aircraft are the use of American satellites or intelligence gathering flights carried out by other countries, with the approval of the government of Lebanon.

Washington has made it clear to Israel that it recognizes the need for gathering intelligence and knows that the air force's aerial photography provided important information that helped Israel during the recent war in Lebanon.

However, the Americans are concerned that continued overflights would contribute to a weakening of the government of Lebanon headed by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

The U.S. fears the flights will offer Hezbollah an excuse to violate the cease-fire, by arguing that Israel has broken the deal first with its overflights.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will discuss the issue of the overflights during his visit to Washington on Monday. Olmert will inform President George W. Bush of the continued supply of arms to Hezbollah and the fact that the international embargo is only being implemented partially.

The low-level flights over Beirut and other Lebanese cities last week drew severe international criticism.

A senior U.S. official told reporters in Tel Aviv this week, "We recognize Israel's need for these flights, and are seeking a solution that will be suitable both for the international community and meet Israel's needs."

France intensified its condemnation of the Israeli flights over Lebanon Thursday. Israel's ambassador to Paris, Daniel Shek, was called to the French Foreign Ministry, where a he was presented with a serious official protest.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy summoned Shek over an incident in late October involving jet fighters that descended rapidly and then rose quickly as if they were dropping bombs or firing at French ground forces serving in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

The troops came within two seconds of firing missiles at the jets, French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said Thursday.

"In legitimate defense, our soldiers removed the covers from the missile battery and were two seconds away from firing at the planes that were threatening them," she said
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  1.   Arab nations need new ways to collect intelligence in Israel 06:23  |  Patrick 10/11/06
  2.   #1 in your dreams 06:42  |  Mike 10/11/06
  3.   A brilliant idea: how about Lebanon actually comply with 1701? 07:37  |  Dan 10/11/06
  4.   some real intel for arabs 07:53  |  Jeff 10/11/06
  5.   Haaretz sensors reader messages 07:54  |  27 million Lebanese 10/11/06
  6.   Patrick 08:02  |  Thomas 10/11/06
  7.   Did Hezbillah have good reason to retaliate? 08:23  |  John 10/11/06
  8.   Absurdities Absurdities 09:16  |  Walid 10/11/06
  9.   US and Israel need new way to Gather Intelligence 09:32  |  Guy From NYC 10/11/06
  10.   So the French message finally got through.. 09:42  |  Johnboy 10/11/06
  11.   why would the US collect inteligence on lebanon 10:04  |  clever guy 10/11/06
  12.   #3 is right.. peace is the solution 11:09  |  dolores 10/11/06
  13.   27 million Lebanites 11:33  |  rope-a-dope 10/11/06
  14.   #4 11:40  |  Rad 10/11/06
  15.   ISRAELI COMEDY 11:42  |  LEBANESE 10/11/06
  16.   I L.IKE HAARTEZ 11:42  |  LEBANESE 10/11/06
  17.   Dan, another brilliant idea 12:20  |  Skandar 10/11/06
  18.   Jeff, Choose peace 12:22  |  Skandar 10/11/06
  19.   complyance with 1701 12:41  |  comply with 1701 10/11/06
  20.   Spin 12:55  |  JJ 10/11/06
  21.   Gathering arial intellegence 13:48  |  John DOWN THE WALL 10/11/06
  22.   LEBANESE 14:02  |  another 10/11/06
  23.   27 million lebanites & repo-a-dope 18:39  |  sheri 10/11/06
  24.   So the flights are about Intelligence & Israel`s happy to stop 18:51  |  sheri 10/11/06
  25.   So the flights are about intelligence & Israel is happy to stop 18:52  |  sheri 10/11/06
  26.   Not so Clever guy 03:14  |  Sabra 01/11/08
  27.   silly 04:51  |  Huegelsberger Joe 02/11/08
  28.   The advantage of a well-managed ho.dy-resort 05:47  |  Huegelsberger Joe 02/11/08
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