Lebanon-Israel border
Lebanon-Israel borderHadas Parush/Flash 90

A private French school in Lebanon has apologized after a map in a geography class in the school showed Israel— and not “Palestine” — as the country's southern neighbor, The Associated Press reported.

The school apologized following complaints about the map from the parents of a fourth grader, according to the report.

Lebanon is technically at war with Israel, and Lebanese laws ban dealing with or recognizing Israel, including showing it on maps.

The private school issued an urgent statement late Wednesday, saying it respects Lebanon's sovereignty and government school programs, according to AP.

The incident came to public attention when the father of a 9-year-old girl posted the map on his Facebook page, saying "this is what my fourth grade daughter learned in class today."

Lebanon often arrests suspects it accuses of spying for Israel. Just last week, it indicted Lebanese actor and writer Ziad Itani on charges of collaborating with Israel.

Itani is accused of collaborating with an Israeli female spy to collect information about Lebanese politicians and journalists.

In October, the Hezbollah-affiliated television network Al-Manar reported that Lebanese security forces had arrested three Lebanese men suspected of collaborating with Israel.

In January, Lebanon’s security services claimed they had arrested a spy ring comprised of five people who allegedly “spied for Israeli embassies abroad”.

In 2015, Lebanese authorities announced they had arrested two Lebanese nationals and a Syrian on allegations of spying for Israel.