Israel Violating Water Borders in Oil Exploration, Reports Reuters

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Israeli authorities have violated Lebanese maritime boundaries by granting a license to a company for oil and gas exploration in a disputed area near the border, according to Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

Lebanon and Israel have a longstanding maritime border conflict over a sea zone of approximately 860 square kilometers (330 square miles), which overlaps with three of Lebanon’s energy blocks. U.S. diplomats intervened in the issue last year amid rising tensions that included disputes over a border wall constructed by Israel and the growing arsenal of the Iran-supported Hezbollah.

“This is a serious matter. Israel has licensed and is exploiting an area close to Lebanon’s southern maritime borders,” Berri was quoted as saying by members of his Amal party after a recent meeting. He emphasized that this action infringes upon Lebanese sovereignty and threatens the country’s oil resources and waters.

The Israeli Energy Ministry has not provided a response to the claims.

Berri vowed to address this issue and will raise it with the Italian prime minister during a visit to Beirut this week, as well as with representatives from other nations. Amal lawmaker Ali Bazzi stated that Israel has continued its “violation” despite companies on the Lebanese side refraining from engaging in the contentious area.

Lebanon is situated on the Levant Basin in the eastern Mediterranean, which includes Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, and Syria—regions where significant gas fields have been discovered since 2009.

Lebanon has entered into its first offshore oil and gas exploration agreements for two energy blocks, one of which is disputed by Israel. A consortium comprising companies from France, Italy, and Russia has signed the contracts to explore these blocks.

Despite the ongoing dispute, Lebanon remains determined to benefit from potential underwater resources in Block 9. The operator of the consortium has stated that it will avoid drilling the block’s first well near the contentious area, opting instead to position the well more than 25 kilometers (15 miles) from the maritime boundary claimed by Israel.