UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Thursday called on Israel to end its daily violations of Lebanese airspace, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.

"Israel ought to halt the flights which constitute a violation of Lebanese sovereignty," said UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti, who added that these violations are "a matter of continued discussion with Israel."

Tenenti described the situation in south Lebanon as being "tranquil in general," saying UNIFIL commander Major General Claudio Graziano has met with Israeli officials to discuss a possible withdrawal from divided al-Ghajar village.

Al-Ghajar was considered part of Syria before the six-day war in 1967 when Israel captured the Golan Heights, which have borders with Lebanon, from Syria in 1967.

Over the years, the village expanded northward into Lebanese territory. In 2000 when the UN drew the Blue Line to demarcate the border between Israel and Lebanon following the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the south, the northern half of the village came under Lebanese control and the southern part remained in Israel's hands.

Israeli troops returned to the northern half of al-Ghajar in the 2006 war against Hezbollah.

(Xinhua News Agency January 8, 2010)