Israel Fires on Lebanese Fishing Boats

Lebanese police said Monday that the Israeli coastguard had opened fire on three Lebanese fishing boats close to the two countries” maritime border.

 

All six crew escaped unhurt in the incident, which occurred when the fishing boats approached to within “a few meters (yards)” of the maritime border, the police said.

 

They said the crews were detained for questioning by a Lebanese patrol boat.

 

The border was agreed in 2000 when Israeli forces withdrew from southern Lebanon following a 22-year occupation.

 

Two weeks ago, Israeli troops shot and wounded two suspected Lebanese drug smugglers as they tried to infiltrate the Israeli-held sector of the divided border village of Ghajar.

 

Israeli planes frequently overfly Lebanese airspace, violating the August 2006 U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which formally ended the 34-day war between Israel and Hizbullah.

 

The U.N. has several times demanded that Israel stop overflying Lebanese territory, but the Jewish state insists the flights will continue until what it says are continuing violations of an arms embargo by Hizbullah cease.