Lebanon warns against Israeli intentions over gas exploring

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aounBEIRUT, — Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun warned Monday that Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s remarks on an offshore gas block dubbed Block 9 “reflect the true Israeli intentions.”

Aoun voiced his warning during a meeting with visiting Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos, a statement by the presidential media office said.

Thanking Greece for its “participation in the maritime force of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL),” the president noted that “the role of UNIFIL’s maritime component has become more important in terms of protecting Lebanese territorial waters, especially the Exclusive Economic Zone,” the statement added.

“Israel has ambitions to control parts of it before Lebanon launches oil and gas exploration in it,” Aoun stressed.

Lieberman had on Wednesday described as “very provocative” Lebanon’s tender on exploring gas in Block 9. This gas field “is by all accounts ours,” the Israeli minister claimed.

Lebanon in December approved a bid for offshore oil and gas exploration off its Mediterranean coast — a vision for years hampered by political instability and domestic wrangling.

That deal was awarded to the only bidder, an international consortium including France‘s Total and Russia‘s Novatek who will start exploratory offshore drilling in 2019.

A major finding in Lebanon’s southernmost waters could raise the possibility of a dispute with Israel, which is developing a number of offshore gas deposits, with one large field, Tamar, already producing gas, and the larger Leviathan field set to go online next year.

There are over 800 square km of waters claimed by Lebanon and Israel, which are technically in a state of conflict. Israel and Hezbollah fought a fierce, month-long war in 2006.

(Xinhua)

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4 responses to “Lebanon warns against Israeli intentions over gas exploring”

  1. ‘Thanking Greece for its “participation in the maritime force of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL),” the president noted that “the role of UNIFIL’s maritime component has become more important in terms of protecting Lebanese territorial waters, especially the Exclusive Economic Zone,” the statement added.’

    The senile moron keeps spewing nonsense, as usual. The Exclusive Economic Zone is not part of the territorial waters, and UNIFIL has nothing to do there anyway.

    “The difference between the territorial sea and the exclusive economic zone is that the first confers full sovereignty over the waters, whereas the second is merely a “sovereign right” which refers to the coastal state’s rights below the surface of the sea. The surface waters, as can be seen in the map, are international waters.[2]” (Wikipedia). (I guess it’s not a reliable source, as it is notorious for being controlled by the Joos). 🙂

    “UNIFIL Mandate

    According to Security Council resolutions 425 (1978) and 426 (1978) of 19 March 1978, UNIFIL was established to:

    Confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.

    Restore international peace and security.

    Assist the Government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the area.

    According to Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) of 11 August 2006, UNIFIL, in addition to carrying out its mandate under resolutions 425 and 426, shall:

    Monitor the cessation of hostilities.

    Accompany and support the Lebanese armed forces as they deploy throughout the South, including along the Blue Line, as Israel withdraws its armed forces from Lebanon.

    Coordinate its activities referred to in the preceding paragraph (above) with the Government of Lebanon and the Government of Israel.

    Extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons.

    Assist the Lebanese armed forces in taking steps towards the establishment between the Blue Line and the Litani river of an area free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons other than those of the Government of Lebanon and of UNIFIL deployed in this area.

    Assist the Government of Lebanon, at its request, in securing its borders and other entry points to prevent the entry in Lebanon without its consent of arms or related materiel.

    By this resolution, the Council also authorized UNIFIL to take all necessary action in areas of deployment of its forces and as it deems within its capabilities, to ensure that its area of operations is not utilized for hostile activities of any kind; to resist attempts by forceful means to prevent it from discharging its duties under the
    mandate of the Security Council; and to protect United Nations personnel, facilities, installations and equipment, ensure the security and freedom of movement of United Nations personnel, humanitarian
    workers and, without prejudice to the responsibility of the Government of Lebanon, to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence.”

    https://unifil.unmissions.org/unifil-mandate

  2. Hind Abyad Avatar

    While bombing between Syria and Israel is flaring YaLibnan remains mute.
    ‘Israeli rocket meant for Syria lands in eastern Lebanon’
    https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/israeli-rocket-meant-syria-lands-eastern-lebanon/?utm_medium=ppc&utm_

  3. Hind Abyad Avatar

    ‘Global spy malware traced back to Lebanese security’

    At least since 2012, Dark Caracal has been actively transmitting private information, from call records and audio recordings to documents and photos, of military personnel, activists, journalists and lawyers living in the United States, Canada, Germany, France and Lebanon. This was made possible through trojanized apps, fake versions of applications, including Signal and WhatsApp. Trackers are able to take photos, retrieve location and information and capture audio. So far, no legal action or sanctions have been taken, and it remains unknown if the GDGS activities are still ongoing.

    http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/02/lebanon-malware-espionage-campaign-cyber-security.html#ixzz575pwsSdO

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