1.
GV INT. Delegates at conference.
0.02

2.
SV ZOOM IN Libyan delegation.
0.05

3.
CU Israeli Ambassador ZOOM OUT to Egyptian delegate.
0.14

4.
CU ZOOM OUT Lebanon delegation.
0.18

5.
CU ZOOM OUT IATA delegate on
0.21

6.
CU ZOOM OUT Bangladesh delegation.
0.26

7.
SCU Algerian delegation.
0.30

8.
SCU Israeli Ambassador speaking French
1.00



Initials APSM/2011 ASPM2032



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Israeli Ambassador to Italy, Mr Amiel Najar, has defended his country's interception of an Iraqi plane, before the international Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) meeting in Rome on Friday (7 September).

Mr Najar was addressing the diplomatic sanction of the three-week ICAO meeting. At the start of the meeting, two weeks age, the organisation voted to condemn the Israeli action by 82 votes to one. They also said that they would the further measures if the Israelis undertook any similar action again.

The Israeli Ambassador told the conference at the time of the condemnation that his Government had taken an "exceptional" measure, "in order to save innocent lives from a criminal" -- he was referring to Mr George Habash, leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, one of the groups which has been involved in aircraft hijacking.

The Israeli ambassador addressed the ICAD convergence on Friday just one day after Italian police had arrested five Arabs who allegedly were planning to shoot down an israeli plane taking off from Rome International Airport.