> Eh? Is France going to shoot down an Israeli plane?
Here's Pellegrini's exact comment:
"In answer to another question, as to whether French UNIFIL commanders would open fire on Israeli warplanes if they continued to cross the airspace, he said that the French contingent had anti-aircraft weapons deployed, but only for self-defence. He added that French contingents are systematically deployed with anti-aircraft systems ever since they suffered heavy losses in Côte d'Ivoire recently. Any use of anti-aircraft facilities beyond self-defence would depend on new rules of engagement, he added." http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2006/061019_UNIFIL.doc.htm
Here's the catch: if Israel decides to bomb an alleged bunker or arms depot somewhere, it might accidentally hit UNIFIL lines, and UNIFIL does have the mandate to protect itself (the French fought very hard for this, apparently).
-- DRR