Israel in a message to Lebanon: "Arranged to protect a shark rig, calls for acceleration of negotiations on the maritime border"
The unusual announcement issued by the government made it clear that the rig placed in Israel's economic waters this week would not draw gas from the disputed territory with Lebanon.
The US is trying to ease tensions and the American mediator will arrive in Beirut on Sunday
Lightning Ravid
08/06/2022
Wednesday, 08 June 2022, 17:13 Updated: 18:02
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In the video: Ganz responds to threats from Nasrallah and Hezbollah (Photo: Ministry of Defense)
Israel issued an unusual statement today (Wednesday) in which it clarified that the "shark" rig placed in Israel's economic waters this week will not pump gas from the disputed territory with Lebanon in the Mediterranean.
"We call on Lebanon to speed up negotiations on the maritime border," Energy Minister Karin Elharar, Defense Minister Bnei Gantz and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said in a joint statement. They stressed that Israel is prepared to protect the rig if necessary.
More on Walla!
Hezbollah on the arrival of a shark rig: We will take action "including the use of force"
To the full article
why is it important:
Elharar, Ganz and Lapid issued the unusual statement to clarify to Lebanon Israel's position on the dispute over the maritime border and the nature of the activity taking place at the rig.
The announcement was also made against the background of threats that began to be heard from Hezbollah against the background of the arrival of the rig.
The big picture:
The dispute between Israel and Lebanon over the maritime border focuses on a relatively small area in the eastern Mediterranean where there is potential for the discovery of natural gas reservoirs that could yield billions of dollars in profits.
Negotiations between the parties on the issue lasted for more than a decade without significant breakthrough. The result is that, unlike Israel, Lebanon has hardly developed its natural gas reserves.
The discovery of natural gas in Lebanon's economic waters may help the country rehabilitate the collapsing economy.
In the news center:
On Sunday, a "shark" rig arrived at the area where it will conduct the gas search about 80 kilometers west of Haifa.
The area where the rig operates is not within the area of dispute between Israel and Lebanon.
The arrival of the rig was known long ago.
Israel even updated Lebanon in advance through several third parties on its arrival and the start of operations.
But when the rig arrived, there were sharp reactions in Lebanon.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati claimed that this was an "Israeli invasion of Lebanon's natural resources."
He warned that this could lead to escalation.
Shark rig (Photo: Official website, courtesy of Energian)
Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem told Reuters that the organization was ready to act against the rig, including by military means, once the Lebanese government adopted a clear position on the issue.
On Monday, the Lebanese president met with Prime Minister Mikati and the two decided to invite the US envoy for energy, Amos Hochstein, who mediates between Israel and Lebanon on the maritime border, to urgently visit Beirut to resume talks that have been stagnant in recent months.
the other side:
Earlier this week after the Lebanese accusations began, senior Israeli officials claimed that Lebanon was lying and that even according to the official Lebanese position, the "shark" rig was in Israeli sovereign territory.
"The lies and threats against Israel are an attempt by the Lebanese government to divert the attention of the Lebanese people from the corruption and insolvency of the leadership," a senior Israeli official told Walla!
On Monday.
Today, the Minister of Energy, the Minister of Defense and the Minister of Foreign Affairs issued a joint statement reiterating that the rig is located in Israeli territory, kilometers south of the area where negotiations are taking place between Israel and Lebanon, mediated by the United States.
"The State of Israel considers it of paramount importance to safeguard its strategic assets, and is prepared to protect them and the security of its infrastructure. All of this is in accordance with its rights," the statement said.
"At the same time, we call on the State of Lebanon to speed up negotiations on the maritime border."
Situation:
The United States is trying to calm the tensions that have developed in recent days between Israel and Lebanon. US State Department officials told Walla! Creative, "said a senior State Department official.
According to the US official, the various elements in Lebanon should refrain from using the issue of natural gas and the dispute over the maritime border in order to gain points in the country's domestic politics.
"An agreement on marking the maritime border is fundamentally important for the Lebanese people and for stability in the region," said a senior State Department official.
The senior US official added: "We are cautiously optimistic about the ability to move towards an agreement that will be based on the proposal the US made to both sides earlier this year.
But there is more work to be done. "
What next:
The office of Lebanese President Michel Awan said that the US envoy for energy, Amos Hochstein, would arrive in Beirut on Sunday or Monday to resume negotiations. The US State Department did not confirm these things but did not deny them.
According to reports in the Lebanese press, Hochstein is expected to demand from President Awan, Prime Minister Mikati and Speaker Nabi Berry to receive a clear, unified and written response to the American proposal. To date, the Lebanese have not responded to the proposal.
Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah is expected to deliver a speech on the dispute over the maritime border with Israel tomorrow evening (Thursday) and clarify his position on the issue.
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Political-political
Tags
Lebanon
The gas rig
United States