Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
The Department of Foreign Affairs stated today that it had learned with concern of the low-level flights staged by the Israeli airforce over Beirut and the southern part of Lebanon on 9 and 10 December 1998.
The Department expressed its disquiet over these flights over the Lebanese capital, which were not only another violation of Lebanon's sovereignty by Israel but were clearly, deliberately aimed at the citizens of Beirut and at disrupting their day-to-day lives.
The Department further pointed out that such actions merely perpetuate the cycle of mistrust and fear in the Middle East and serve only the interests of those parties who seek the destruction of the Middle East Peace Process.
The Department of Foreign Affairs called upon the Government of Israel to honour the spirit of peacemaking engendered by the Oslo Peace Accords and strengthened by the signing of the Wye River Memorandum at the end of October.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 11 DECEMBER 1998