Israel Matzav

Wishful thinking

Foreign Minister Livni's French is as bad as her English.

This afternoon, I reported that French foreign minister Philippe Douste-Blazy had surprisingly come out in favor of Israel's reconaissance flights in Lebanon. Tonight, that appears not to be the case:

"The IAF forays cannot be considered as a separate element of UN Resolution 1701," French Foreign Minister Douste-Blazy said during a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in Paris on Wednesday.

"All parts of the resolution must be implemented, including the return of the kidnapped Israeli soldiers and preventing Hizbullah from rearming," said the French foreign minister.

Israel's Foreign Ministry took Douste-Blazy's statement to mean that the he was siding with Israel regarding the IAF flights.

Nevertheless, Douste-Blazy still pressed for a halt in the IAF sorties.

"It's an important achievement we have to consolidate ... and ensure the respect of the embargo and - at the same time - a halt to the overflights," he said.

I can just picture Gilda Radner sitting there staring at Livni saying "Never mind...."

The flying pigs have landed.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:29 PM