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Lebanese-Israeli Maritime Demarcation Agreement Soon, Due to Credible Resistance Threats

September 22, 2022 

Editor's Note:

 In 1948 and 1967, the Zionist invaders usurped Palestine and made it "Israel." They evicted the Palestinian people from their ancestral homeland, stole the Palestinian territories and the Palestinian resources, including the offshore gas fields.

In addition, they have been trying to steal the neighboring Lebanese gas fields, but the credible Lebanese resistance has forced them to stop their attempts and to acknowledge the Lebanese maritime rights.

Map of Israeli-Lebanese maritime border gas fields, 2022	Map of the East Mediterranean gas fields, 2022 bbc

Lebanese President, Michel 'Aoun‎, September 2022

‎Lebanese President: The file of demarcation of the maritime border is in its happy conclusion‎

Al-Mayadeen Net + Agencies‎, September 22, 2022 ‎

‎‎‎Lebanese President Michel Aoun said on Thursday that things in the file of demarcation of the southern maritime border are in their "happy conclusion", and Lebanon will receive the wealth it deserves.‎

‎A statement issued by the Lebanese presidency said that the deputy head of the Supreme Shia Islamic Council, Sheikh Ali Al-Khatib, quoted the president, after their meeting at Ba'abda Palace, before Wednesday afternoon, as confirming that "things are in their happy conclusion" in the file of demarcation of the southern maritime border, and that Lebanon "will receive the wealth it deserves."‎

‎He pointed out that "no one can give up his sovereign right under the Lebanese position of one, and the Lebanese people stand behind this position," stressing "the need for (filling) the vacuum at the governmental and presidential levels."‎

‎Al-Khatib also stressed "the importance of forming a new government as soon as possible, and that everyone takes responsibility and cooperation to save the country and lift people out of the deplorable reality they are suffering from."‎

‎Earlier, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati stressed ‎‎Lebanon's attachment‎‎ to its sovereignty, wealth and rights to its territorial waters, saying that his country is close to concluding an agreement with Israel on the demarcation of the maritime border.‎

‎It is noteworthy that the American mediator in the file of demarcation of the southern maritime border Amos Hochstein visited Lebanon on September 9 and made new proposals to Lebanon in the demarcation file.‎

‎Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah‎‎ had stressed that oil and gas could not be allowed to be extracted from the Karish field until Lebanon got its demands, noting that it was a "red line."

‎الرئيس اللبناني: ملف ترسيم الحدود البحرية أصبح في خواتيمه السعيدة | الميادين (almayadeen.net)

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Israel made concessions to Lebanon amid border dispute

Middle East Monitor, September 20, 2022

A former Israeli military official said, Tuesday, that Tel Aviv had made "concessions" to Lebanon for reaching an agreement to demarcate their maritime border to avoid an escalation, Anadolu News Agency reports.

Amos Yadlin, the former Head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Division, said Israel was showing flexibility regarding the disputed maritime border with its neighbour.

"We do not want Gaza in Lebanon, Israel does not want Lebanon to drown," he told Israeli radio 103FM.

He stressed that Israel has abandoned several points to help the Lebanese get out of the difficult situation they are in, without providing further details.

Yadlin noted that Israel should start producing gas from the Karish field.

"You can wait a few days, let's give the Americans several days, and I am ready to give them weeks, but not more than that," he said.

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister, Yair Lapid, said that production at the contested Karish gas field will begin soon.

Lebanon and Israel are locked in a dispute over a maritime area of 860 square kilometres (332 square miles), according to maps sent by both countries to the UN in 2011.

The area is rich in natural gas and oil. Starting in 2020, five sessions of indirect negotiations have been held on the issue under UN sponsorship and US mediation, with the latest round held in May 2021.

Israel made concessions to Lebanon amid border dispute – Middle East Monitor

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Lebanon cites 'major progress' in demarcation talks with Israel

Middle East Monitor, September 14, 2022

Lebanese President, Michel Aoun, on Wednesday cited "major progress" in US mediation efforts on a maritime border dispute with Israel, Anadolu News Agency reports.

"The completion of the southern sea border demarcation file will enable Lebanon to launch the process of exploring for oil and gas in the specified fields within the Exclusive Economic Zone," Aoun said in a statement.

"This will give the Lebanese economy a positive impetus to begin exiting the crisis it has been reeling under for years," he added.

The Lebanese leader said contacts to finalise the demarcation file "have made major progress, in which Lebanon has achieved what enables it to exploit its resources in its waters."

"There are technical details that are currently being studied in order to realise Lebanon's interest, rights and sovereignty," he added.

On Tuesday, Israeli public broadcaster, KAN, said, citing an Israeli official, that Tel Aviv has "especially cautious optimism" that a deal can be reached with Lebanon on their disputed maritime border.

Last week, US mediator, Amos Hochstein, expressed optimism over reaching a border demarcation agreement between Lebanon and Israel soon.

Lebanon and Israel are locked in a dispute over a maritime area of ​​860 square kilometres (332 square miles), according to maps sent by both countries to the UN in 2011.

The area is rich in natural gas and oil. Starting in 2020, five sessions of indirect negotiations have been held on the issue under UN sponsorship and US mediation, with the latest round held in May 2021.

Lebanon cites ‘major progress’ in demarcation talks with Israel – Middle East Monitor

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‎‎Hochstein made a new offer to solve the issue of maritime demarcation‎

Al-Mayadeen, Agencies‎ ‎ September 19, 2022

‎Israeli media say that Washington has made a new offer to Israel and Lebanon on the demarcation of the maritime border, and notes that "the settlement proposal is centered on Line 23." ‎

‎U.S. Mediator in Negotiations on Maritime Demarcation Amos Hochstein‎

‎Israeli media reported on Monday that the United States of America has made a new offer to Israel and Lebanon to resolve the crisis of maritime demarcation, noting that the proposal concerns the specific route along which the maritime border in the Mediterranean Sea will pass.‎

‎The Israeli newspaper Haaretz said that "the American mediator in the negotiations for the demarcation of the maritime border, Amos Hoxten, during his visit to the region last week, made an offer to settle, regarding the differences between Israel and Lebanon, on the demarcation of the border according to Line 23 and the Qana field."‎

‎Following the new U.S. offer, "political and security circles in Israel seemed optimistic about the chances of reaching a final settlement of the maritime border dispute in the near future."‎

‎"The settlement proposal is centered on line 23, which is an intermediate line between the South Lebanese claim regarding the location of the border, and the Israeli northern line, as the line proposed by the American mediator is closer to the Lebanese demand," she added.‎

‎According to the newspaper, "Israel requested that the route of Line 23 be changed and modified, deep in the area in the direction of Lebanon, and not near the coast, with the aim of allowing the establishment of a greater defensive space against potential threats from the sea near the coast."‎

‎Haaretz explained that "the Israeli political leadership was ready to make concessions in the Qana field, and believed that the important achievement would be in stabilizing relations between the parties at sea and preventing the possibility of a security escalation against this background in the future."‎

‎It is noteworthy that a source familiar with the matter revealed to ‎‎Al-Mayadeen‎‎ on September 11 that the US envoy for the demarcation of the maritime border, Amos Hoxten, handed Lebanon the coordinates of ‎‎the line of naval buoys‎‎, explaining that these coordinates constitute the "last point that is being negotiated" in preparation for sending his "full presentation."‎

‎According to the announcement by the Israeli Ministry of Energy last week, it seems that the first tests at the Karish field will begin next week, but they will include the flow of gas through a pipeline from the coast to the field, and not vice versa, as the drilling itself is likely to begin next October.‎

‎Haaretz noted that the announcement "would dispel tensions, which have escalated in recent weeks, following Israel's announcement to start extracting gas from the Karish field, even without an agreement with Lebanon on the demarcation of the maritime border."‎

‎Israeli media said‎‎ earlier that "it was the Israeli army that requested clarification regarding the Karish field, in order not to provoke tensions in exchange for Hezbollah."‎

‎Two days ago, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah stressed that oil and gas extraction from the Karish field could not be allowed until Lebanon got its demands, noting that ‎‎it was a "red line."‎‎ ‎

‎Sayyed Nasrallah revealed that Hezbollah "sent a very strong message, away from the media, that the occupation faces a problem if it starts extracting from the Karish field before Lebanon gets its rightful demands." ‎

‎Nasrallah had said that "‎‎Israeli threats regarding demarcation are worthless‎‎, our decision and direction are clear." ‎

هوكستين قدّم عرضاً جديداً لحل مسألة ترسيم الحدود البحرية | الميادين (almayadeen.net)

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Sayyed Nasrallah: Our missiles are directed towards "Karish" and gas extraction before the agreement is a red line‎

Al-Mayadeen Net‎, ‎ September 17, 2022

‎Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah delivers a speech on the occasion of the fortieth of Imam Hussein, in which he spoke about local and regional issues, the most important of which is the issue of the demarcation of the maritime border and the restoration of relations between Hamas and Damascus. ‎

‎‎Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Saturday that "Lebanon is facing a golden opportunity that may not be repeated, through the extraction of gas, to address its crisis." ‎

‎In a televised speech on the occasion of Imam Hussein's fortieth anniversary, Nasrallah stressed that oil and gas extraction from the Karish field cannot be allowed before Lebanon gets its demands, noting that it is a "red line." ‎

‎Sayyed Nasrallah continued: "We gave the negotiations a real opportunity with the aim of extracting Lebanon's gas, and we did not look for any problem."‎

‎Sayyed Nasrallah revealed that Hezbollah "sent a very strong message, away from the media, that (the occupation) faces a problem if it starts extracting from the Karish field before Lebanon gets its rightful demands." ‎

‎"We are not part of the negotiations, and our whole eye is on Karish and our missiles as well," he said, stressing that "if confrontation is imposed, it is absolutely inevitable." ‎

‎Sayyed Nasrallah expressed his belief that "the Israelis, Americans and others have sufficient data about the seriousness of the resistance, and that they are not joking about it." ‎

‎"‎‎Israeli threats regarding the demarcation are worthless‎‎, our decision and direction are clear, and we are waiting for the coming days to build on it," Nasrallah said.‎

‎He stressed that "if Lebanon does not get its rights, which are demanded by the Lebanese state, ‎‎we are going to escalate‎‎, whether the nuclear agreement is signed or not." ‎

‎On August 9, ‎‎Nasrallah warned‎‎ that "the hand, which will extend to any of Lebanon's wealth, will be cut off as it was when it extended to its territory," adding that "in the coming days we are waiting for the enemy's answers regarding Lebanon's demands regarding the demarcation of the border."‎

‎See also: ‎‎Israeli media: Hezbollah's video on Karish embodies Nasrallah's threats ‎

‎Modification of UNIFIL Missions is an Israeli Trap‎

‎With regard to the recent resolution on UNIFIL, Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that it was "an assault and an infringement of Lebanese sovereignty, reflecting the sagging and absence of the State". ‎

‎According to him, "the recent decision is an Israeli mine and trap, and it would have opened the door to great dangers," noting that "those who stood behind it are either ignorant or conspiratorial," stressing at the same time that "the position of the state was good."‎

‎On August 31, the ‎‎UN Security Council renewed‎‎ the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for one year, which will also continue to logistically support the Lebanese army for six months. This time, however, he added a paragraph to item 16, which speaks of UNIFIL not needing prior authorization to perform its tasks. ‎

‎See also:‎‎ New conditions for UNIFIL's mission in Lebanon.. What are the backgrounds for this amendment?‎

‎As for the formation of the Lebanese government, Nasrallah expressed "high hopes for its formation," stressing the need for "there to be no presidential vacuum." ‎

‎"Everyone must make concessions, and the presidential entitlement must be held on its constitutional date, and there are no point in threats," he said, endorsing "calls for agreement on the president, and for there to be meetings away from challenge and vetoes." ‎

‎"The country's next president must have the widest possible base, politically and popularly, to carry out his legal and constitutional role," he said.‎

‎Commenting on the ‎‎recent incursions into a number of Lebanese banks‎‎, Nasrallah said, "Security treatment is not enough, and officials should form a crisis cell and an emergency cell to find real solutions." ‎

السيد نصر الله: صواريخنا موجهة نحو "كاريش" واستخراج الغاز قبل الاتفاق خط أحمر | الميادين (almayadeen.net)

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Mediterranean gas fields: potential spark for regional conflicts

Middle East Monitor, May 10, 2014

Natural gas resources in the Mediterranean Sea will become a principal reason for conflicts in the region between Israel and its allies on the one hand and the neighbouring Arab countries on the other, experts forecast.

This would be similar to the conflict over water resources in the region, and would reshape regional and international alliances on a primarily economic basis.

Natural gas fields located in the Mediterranean Sea are of growing importance to the region, in particular Israel, for the gas' use as a low cost source of electricity, economists agreed.

Reserves recently discovered in the eastern Mediterranean region represent a golden opportunity and valuable wealth for the entire region including Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine. This may lead to conflicts and fierce competition as each country tries to acquire the largest portion of this natural wealth, particularly in light of the absence of a clear agreement on the maritime borders of their respective economic zones.

Israel recently intensified its military and strategic cooperation with Greece and Cyprus. Analysts interpreted this as a sign of prospective tripartite strategic partnership among the three nations aiming at monopolising the massive gas resources in the eastern Mediterranean and forcibly appropriating them at the expense of Arab countries and Turkey.

Sources revealed Israeli Minister of Defense Moshe Ya'alon signed a warships deal with Germany to protect gas fields and installations in the Mediterranean.

Economic expert Maher Al-Tabaa asserted that Israel seeks to extend its control over Palestinian resources, including gas fields, due to their strategic importance. Al-Tabaa cited tireless efforts by Israel to freeze the agreement held between the Palestinian Authority and the British Gas Group to explore gas in the field adjacent to Gaza shores.

Al-Tabaa highlighted genuine Israeli fears of potential attacks on its gas fields and mines in the sea, which prompted it to protect them with modern military arsenal. He added it is highly likely that gas would ignite new conflicts, particularly the wells located on joint borders in Gaza, Lebanon, or Egypt.

He interpreted the gas agreement between Egypt and Israel as an attempt by the latter to drain Egyptian gas fields, to guarantee its superiority in the region.

Al-Tabaa said that the current status of the natural gas field located off the Gaza shores remains "ambiguous", eight years after the agreement with the British company was frozen. He pointed out that the agreement in its current status partially guarantees the Palestinian Authority's rights in the gas well.

The strategic natural gas inventory in the Israeli-controlled fields is estimated at 950 billion cubic meters (bcm), which would guarantee a return of $60 billion (£36.8 billion) for the Israeli budget over the next two decades.

A number of Israeli security officials are concerned about the possibility of militant attacks from Sinai or Gaza targeting the newly discovered gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean. Perhaps these concerns explain the Israeli government's decision to assign Unit 13 in its naval forces the responsibility of protecting natural gas fields and exploration operations in the Mediterranean.

Global conflict

Economic expert Omar Shaaban points out that natural gas started to emerge as a major element in the ongoing conflicts in a number of regions. He says natural gas might be one of the reasons of the war in Syria and one of the international community's motives behind intervention in this matter.

Shaaban asserted that the economic element has overtaken the security and political elements as a factor of reshaping global and regional alliances. He cited the gas imports agreement signed by the Energy Authority in Ramallah to supply natural gas over a period of twenty years for the energy power plant which is yet to be established as proof of this.

Moreover, he stressed the keenness of Israel to secure its stockpiles of natural gas and protect its fields and wells from any potential attacks, pointing to the existence of a real dispute over a number of gas wells in the Mediterranean between Israel, Lebanon and Cyprus.

Shaaban predicted that the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea would interfere to settle the ownership of disputed gas fields, ruling out that Israel would allow any company to work on these fields based on an agreement with the Lebanese government and its intention to explore gas in those fields.

Shaaban highlighted the ongoing negotiations between Israel and Palestine to purchase natural gas discovered off the Gaza shores, amidst the media cover-up imposed by Palestinian leadership.

Natural gas fields are considered one of the most important marine resources discovered by Israel 10 years ago. Israeli economists estimated the value of those resources at tens of billions of US dollars, which will revive the Israeli economy as a result of the expected revenues.

Throughout the past five years, a number of gas fields have been discovered in the Mediterranean. They include Aphrodite, Tamar, and Leviathan fields. The Tamar field was discovered in 2009. It is located 50km (31m) to the west of Haifa, and contains 250 bcm of natural gas. Experts say that the Tamar field would be sufficient for Israel's needs for 20-30 years.

Source: AlEstqlal

Mediterranean gas fields: potential spark for regional conflicts – Middle East Monitor

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