BEIRUT — Lebanon's President Michel Aoun Thursday demanded Israel halt all
exploration in an offshore gas field on its southern border, as part of an
ongoing dispute over their shared sea frontier.
اضافة اعلان
The countries, which are still technically at war, last year took part in
indirect US-brokered talks to discuss demarcation to clear the way for offshore
oil and gas exploration.
But those talks stalled after Lebanon demanded a larger area, including part
of the Karish gas field, where Israel has given a Greek firm rights for
exploration.
"Lebanon is within its rights to evolve its position," Aoun told
visiting US envoy David Hale, asking for "international experts" to
weigh in on the issue.
He called for a "commitment to not carrying out any oil or gas
activities and not starting any exploration in the Karish field and its
adjacent waters" until the matter was settled, the presidency said.
The talks last year were supposed to discuss a Lebanese demand for 860
square kilometers of territory in the disputed maritime area, according to a
map sent to the UN in 2011.
But Lebanon then said the map was based on erroneous calculations and
demanded 1,430 square kilometers more territory further south, including part
of Karish.
Lebanon's outgoing public works minister this week signed a draft decree
cementing Lebanon's demand for the larger area.
Aoun, the caretaker prime minister and the outgoing defense minister still
have to sign it before Lebanon sends it to the UN to make its new demand
official.
For his part, Hale on Thursday said the US was ready to continue brokering
Israel-Lebanon talks "on the basis on which we initiated these discussions,"
appearing to reject the Lebanese move towards demanding a larger area.
The US envoy's visit comes as Lebanon's top politicians have for months
argued over the composition a new cabinet to launch reforms and unlock
financial aid to lift the country out of its worst economic collapse in
decades.
"The time to build a government, not block it, is now," Hale said.
"Those who continue to obstruct progress on the reform agenda jeopardize
their relationship with the United States and our partners and open themselves
up to punitive actions."
The US in November slapped sanctions on Aoun's son-in-law, former energy and
foreign affairs minister Gebran Bassil, for alleged corruption.
It also sanctioned former finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil and former
transport minister Yusef Fenianos in September for alleged graft and support of
the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.
Hezbollah is black-listed by Washington, but it is also a powerful political
player in Lebanon with seats in parliament.
Lebanon's government stepped down after a massive blast at Beirut's port in
August 2020, but deeply divided politicians have been unable to form a new
cabinet ever since.
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