French “peacekeepers” in Lebanon won’t stop Hizballah from smuggling weapons or militarizing residential areas, or take any responsibility for disarming the Islamic terrorist group. But when Israel acts out of sheer self-preservation, and does the job that France and the UN refuse to do, France threatens to shoot down IAF jets: France demands Israel stop mock raids.

Of course, the threat comes eight days later.

PARIS - The French government demanded Thursday that Israel stop mock raids over Lebanon after French peacekeepers came within seconds of shooting down Israeli warplanes in what the defense minister called a near-catastrophe.

Israeli officials said the flights are needed to monitor Lebanese compliance with U.N. demands, and that they were working with the French-led U.N. peacekeeping force to avoid misunderstandings.

The incident incensed the French, drew attention to challenges facing the U.N. force and raised tensions three months into the shaky cease-fire that halted the Israel-Hezbollah war.

On Oct. 31, Israeli F-15 fighter planes nose-dived repeatedly over French peacekeepers’ positions in southern Lebanon, French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie told lawmakers Wednesday night.

The planes were “in attack position,” a spokesman for the French general staff, Capt. Christophe Prazuck, told reporters. French troops responded by readying an anti-aircraft missile and were seconds away from firing, he said.

“Our troops barely avoided a catastrophe,” Alliot-Marie told parliament. “Our troops find themselves in a position where they have to fire in legitimate self- defense.”

Defense Ministry officials would not elaborate on why French troops decided not to fire or explain why they waited eight days to announce the incident.