The Lebanese Government announced over the Beirut radio today that she will not accept the crew of a Lebanese plane seized by Israel unless the plane, too, is returned. Israeli authorities turned over the crew to the Mixed Armistice Commission last Friday. They also presented to the Commission prints of photos showing many Israeli settlements and roads photographed by the intercepted plane.
Israel authorities confiscated the films after the intercepted plane, a three-engine light bomber, was escorted by Israel fighter planes to a landing at Haifa airport. The meeting of the MAC was called when Lebanon claimed the plane was making photographic data on a Lebanese village when it was intercepted by the Israel planes. Lebanon lodged a protest with the MAC. Israel did likewise, complaining that the plane flew over Israel territory. The plane was carrying a crew of five, headed by an Italian pilot, and equipment for aerial reconnaissance.
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