French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie warned on Saturday of the risks of renewed conflict on the Lebanon-Israel border after the Jewish state's summer war with Hizbullah.
Speaking during a visit to Kuwait, she called the current situation there "stable and fragile" after a UN resolution ended 34 days of fighting between Israel and the Lebanese militia Hizbullah on August 15.
"That is why it is imperative to avoid any risk of provocation that could lead to renewed conflict or other parties not to respect their obligations" under UN Security Council Resolution 1701, Alliot-Marie told a news conference.
Asked about ongoing Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace, she said they were "worrying because such over-flights take a hostile form -- as was the case with a French naval vessel and a German one."
"There is always the risk that the crews on board these ships will exercise their legitimate right to defence and return fire," she said.
Airspace violations "may also be an incitement for others not to respect their obligations under the United Nations resolution and to reply to provocation at a time when the interest of everyone in the region is in having peace," Alliot-Marie added.
She urged the Lebanese people to "show cohesion" on the political level, as Lebanon is "a formidable example... of the capacity of men and women of different origins, religions and cultures to live together."
Israel has drawn intense international criticism by continuing its over-flights of Lebanese territory despite the cease-fire.
Last month, Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz said the over-flights were necessary to monitor what he charged was continuing arms smuggling by Hizbullah.
France currently commands the beefed up UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon whose job it is to police the cease-fire.