Israeli planes steering clear of Lebanon -France

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 21 (Reuters) After years of regular Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace, there has been a 48-hour pause in warplanes flying over Lebanon, French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said.

The French cabinet minister told a news conference yesterday at UN headquarters that the Israeli air incursions were ''extremely dangerous'' and should stop permanently.

The French commander of the UN force in southern Lebanon has warned that that peacekeepers may at some point resort to force to prevent the Israeli overflights.

To do so, however, would require the United Nations to rewrite the rules of engagement for its troops, Major-General Alain Pellegrini told reporters.

UN officials said no such move was under way.

Alliot-Marie said the French peacekeeping contingent in southern Lebanon, while equipped with anti-aircraft missiles, could use these weapons only in self-defense.

But an Israeli aircraft might mistakenly be seen by UN troops as having a hostile intent, possibly triggering ''a very serious incident,'' she said.

In addition, the violations weaken the UN resolution underpinning the Aug. 14 cease-fire that ended the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah, she said.

The violations ''might be used as a pretext for some people to ignore the resolution's requirements,'' she said. ''That is why it seems necessary for us that these violations stop now.'' Commanders in the field had just reported that no Israeli aircraft had flown into Lebanese airspace for the past 48 hours, she said.

The Lebanese government and the UN force in southern Lebanon say these flights violate the cease-fire resolution and file daily reports to the United Nations on the incidents.

Israel has said the flights were necessary to help ensure that arms are not smuggled into southern Lebanon from Syria to resupply Hezbollah.

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