Germany confirms new incident with Israel

Germany said yesterday its navy, which is patrolling the Lebanese coast as part of an international peacekeeping force, had been involved in a second incident involving Israeli fighter planes.

The Defence Ministry said it occurred on Thursday and involved a German navy helicopter and Israeli F-16 fighters.

"We are aware of the episode, but it was not menacing," the spokesman said, after the Bild am Sonntag reported the Israeli planes had "dangerously badgered" the helicopter.

The spokesman said the area was used by the Israeli air force for training, adding: "Perhaps other standards apply for them than for us."

An Israeli security source said Israel was unaware of the new incident and confirmed the area was used for training exercises and not attack operations. If a detailed report was filed, Israel could investigate the incident, the source said.

On Wednesday, Israel denied a German newspaper report that two of its air force planes had fired twice as they flew over a German navy ship patrolling the Lebanon coast. But it did say jets had been scrambled when a helicopter took off from a German aircraft carrier without identifying itself.

Germany confirmed at the time that an incident had occurred, but gave no details.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told a group of visiting German parliamentarians yesterday he was sorry for the "misunderstandings that occurred a week ago and emphasised the importance of the participation of the German force among the multinational forces in Lebanon," his office said in a statement.

The Israeli prime minister also assured them Israel's forces would maintain direct contact with Germany's in the area "to ensure a similar incident is not repeated".

Germany had subsequently received assurances from Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz that the air force would not carry out any hostile fire or manoeuvres around German vessels.

Germany assumed command of a UN naval force off Lebanon this month, and has sent eight ships and 1,000 service personnel to join the international peace operation in the region.

The naval force is charged with preventing weapons smuggling and helping maintain a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas.