Lebanon Rejects Israeli Proposed Sea Border, Says it Threatens Peace
Lebanon warned the United Nations on Monday that Israel's proposed sea border threatens peace and security, as tensions rise between the neighbors over offshore oil and gas reserves.
"Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour has sent a letter to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon rejecting geographic coordinates Israel submitted to the United Nations concerning the northern part of the waters it claims," said the ministry.
It said in a statement that the Israeli claim "infringes on Lebanon's Exclusive Economic Zone," a sea zone that gives a state the right to explore its maritime resources.
"This is a clear violation of Lebanon's rights... over an area of some 860 square kilometers, and puts international peace and security at risk," it said, adding, "We urge the secretary general to take all necessary measures to avoid conflict."
Lebanon and Israel, which remain technically at war, locked horns over the maritime border after the discovery of potential offshore energy reserves.
The Israeli cabinet in July approved a map and submitted it to the United Nations, which has been asked to mediate the growing conflict.
The Israeli map conflicts with Lebanon's proposed borders, which give the Jewish state less territorial waters and was submitted to the United Nations last year.
Beirut argues its map is in line with an armistice accord drawn up in 1949, an agreement which is not contested by Israel.
Israel has for months been moving to develop several large offshore natural gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean, some of which are shared with Cyprus.
The Lebanese government has meanwhile warned Beirut will not give up its maritime rights and accuses Israel of violating Lebanese waters, territory and airspace.
over 12 years
where are all the "lebanese" now...of course, the zionist information war department is forbidden to express itself on real subjects like this one
over 12 years
Israel + Iran + Syria + filthey non-Islamic militia are all same devil and enemy of Lebanon.
over 12 years
lol...someone from zionist war information department wrote something just to prove some point that cannot be proven
over 12 years
March 14 must be angry about his! They would freely give Israel all the maritime resources they desire! Another May 7 is needed to take care of these corrupt fools!
over 12 years
March 14 must be angry about his! They would freely give Israel all the maritime resources they desire! Another May 7 is needed to take care of these corrupt fools!
over 12 years
The Hezz would not let Lebanon do any negotiations for the gas or maritime border. Now that they are in charge they want to let Iran drill ang get their filthy hands on the money. With the Hezz in charge Israel will never let Lebanon get any gas. This is yet another Hezz political blunder pure and simple.
over 12 years
Stupid morons, all talk and no action. Israel asserted it's rights to territorial waters by fabricating and deploying offshore platforms. We can do the same, this is how nations behave and protect their interests. But maybe the contract with Iran for drilling in Lebanese waters is not yet finalized.
over 12 years
habal, if it was not for you and your likes we would not be in this position...
..... and the morale of the story is....? What will the all mighty Mansour, Beirut, etc... do? Nothing.... words, words, and then some more words. Get your back sides and negotiate as civilized people often do instead of uttering empty threads. Mansour: your mouth keep writing checks that your body cannot cash!