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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Israel denies German ship clash | Israel denies German ship clash |
| (4 days later) | |
| Israel has denied that shots were fired during an incident in which Israeli fighter jets were alleged to have buzzed a German naval vessel. | Israel has denied that shots were fired during an incident in which Israeli fighter jets were alleged to have buzzed a German naval vessel. |
| Israel confirmed that an incident took place but denied reports that the Israeli jets fired two shots. | Israel confirmed that an incident took place but denied reports that the Israeli jets fired two shots. |
| The two countries' defence ministers have reportedly discussed the incident. | The two countries' defence ministers have reportedly discussed the incident. |
| Germany sent navy but not ground forces to join the Lebanese peacekeeping mission because it wanted to avoid any chance of a clash with Israeli forces. | Germany sent navy but not ground forces to join the Lebanese peacekeeping mission because it wanted to avoid any chance of a clash with Israeli forces. |
| Sensitivities remain over Germany's Nazi past. | Sensitivities remain over Germany's Nazi past. |
| Helicopter alert | Helicopter alert |
| The German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel revealed that an incident took place on Tuesday this week, quoting a German junior defence minister as saying two Israeli F-16 fighters had flown low over the German ship, firing twice. | The German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel revealed that an incident took place on Tuesday this week, quoting a German junior defence minister as saying two Israeli F-16 fighters had flown low over the German ship, firing twice. |
| The German ship - an unarmed reconnaissance vessel - adopted defensive measures, the report said. | The German ship - an unarmed reconnaissance vessel - adopted defensive measures, the report said. |
| "There was no such incident," an Israeli military spokeswoman told Reuters. | "There was no such incident," an Israeli military spokeswoman told Reuters. |
| She said Israeli jets were scrambled when a helicopter took off from a German vessel close to Israeli waters without identifying itself. | She said Israeli jets were scrambled when a helicopter took off from a German vessel close to Israeli waters without identifying itself. |
| The pilots realised what had happened and returned to base without incident, she said. | The pilots realised what had happened and returned to base without incident, she said. |
| But in Germany opposition lawmakers demanded further explanation. | But in Germany opposition lawmakers demanded further explanation. |
| Birgit Homburger, of the opposition Free Democrats, which opposed Germany's deployment to the region, asked the government to say what would happen if Israeli jets overflew German ships again. | Birgit Homburger, of the opposition Free Democrats, which opposed Germany's deployment to the region, asked the government to say what would happen if Israeli jets overflew German ships again. |
| Germany's navy is part of the UN peacekeeping force deployed to the Israeli-Lebanese border following the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah earlier this year. | Germany's navy is part of the UN peacekeeping force deployed to the Israeli-Lebanese border following the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah earlier this year. |