ARABS-ISRAEL - May 4 - Palestinians Say Another Plane Intercepted.

Israel intercepts a Palestinian aircraft flying from Gaza International Airport to Jordan, the 3rd such incident this week, after it says that planes were using the wrong flight paths. Israel's military says aircraft landing at Palestinian controlled Gaza airport had recently used unauthorised flight paths and endangered Israeli fighter jets patrolling the area. An Israeli military statement says: "Planes which land at Gaza's international airport are supposed to do so on agreed flight paths and in accordance with agreed procedures", adding: "Recently planes have started arriving without pre-arrangement, on incorrect flight paths and against procedures, creating a safety risk by crossing flight zones used by Israeli air force planes".

Palestinian Civil Aviation head Fayez Zaidan tells reporters Israel intercepted a Palestinian Airlines flight which took off from Gaza for Jordan's capital Amman. Referring to the air corridor over Egypt, he says: "The plane was intercepted by the Israelis when it used the newly introduced air corridor. It was asked to turn to Al Arish". He says: "The Egyptians facilitated the way and it continued". (Palestinian officials have complained that operations at Gaza International Airport have been affected by recent incidents where planes were denied permission to land by Israel.) On May 4, Palestinian and Egyptian officials say 2 Israeli fighter jets forced an Egyptian Boeing 737 flying from Cairo to Gaza to turn back. Israeli official Shlomo Dror, who co-ordinates between Israel's military and the Palestinian Authority, says the plane was turned back because it was flying off-course. Earlier in the week, Israel prevented a Moroccan jet carrying a ministerial team from landing in Gaza. (Israel controls the Gaza Strip's air space under interim peace accords signed with the Palestine Liberation Organisation.)