'Israel' rejects Lebanese revisions to border demarcation proposal

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli Media
6 Oct 2022 13:28

An Israeli official says negotiations on an agreed maritime border will immediately stop if Hezbollah attempts to cause harm to the Karish rig or threaten "Israel".

Israeli occupation Prime Minister Yair Lapid

An Israeli official said Thursday that the Israeli occupation rejected revisions requested by Lebanon to the US-mediated border demarcation proposal.

The official, announcing Israeli occupation Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s decision to reject the revision requests, warned that any further negotiations would cease should Hezbollah threaten the Karish gas rig.

"Lapid was briefed on the substantive changes Lebanon was seeking to make to the agreement and instructed his negotiating team to reject them," the official said, adding that the Israeli occupation's PM said "Israel" "would not compromise on its economic and security interests, even if it meant no deal would be reached anytime soon."

According to the Israeli official, "Israel will begin production of natural gas from its Karish field as soon as that is possible," warning that "if Hezbollah or anyone else attempts to cause harm to the rig or threaten Israel, the negotiations on an agreed maritime border will immediately stop and [Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed] Hassan Nasrallah will have to explain to the citizens of Lebanon why they will not have a natural gas rig in production or an economic future."

"Israel" prepared to defend infrastructure: Gantz

Earlier, Israeli occupation Security Minister Benny Gantz said "Israel" is prepared to defend its infrastructure whether a deal with Lebanon is signed or not.

Gantz warned that the military cost to Lebanon and Hezbollah "will be very grave" in case the Lebanese Resistance party attacked the Israeli occupation, claiming that "we are not eager for war but are prepared for one."

But Yedioth Ahronoth quoted Israeli Energy Minister Karin Elharar as saying that "I am versed in the details of the draft agreement and can say it is good for Israel."

"We did not concede one centimeter of the demands of our security officials, nor will we. If the Lebanese are not interested in a deal, there will not be one," she claimed.

Elharar also slammed former Israeli PM and opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu for warning that he would not be bound by an agreement with Lebanon should he return to power.

"He is working in the interests of Hezbollah and their clip announcing they had won," Elharar claimed, adding that "this is something I would expect from our enemies and not an Israeli elected official. It is harmful to our security."

Demarcation agreement strengthens Hezbollah's position, proves its ability to achieve its goals

In the same context, Israeli media considered Thursday that the Lebanese maritime border agreement strengthens Hezbollah's position inside Lebanon, stressing that Hezbollah has once again proven that it can achieve its political and strategic goals in Lebanon and the region thanks to its military strength that cannot be dissuaded or weakened.

An Israeli expert on Arab affairs, Yoni Ben-Menachem, said on Twitter that the Biden administration is pressuring "Israel" to approve the draft maritime border agreement with Lebanon, despite the revisions that Lebanon made to the proposal.

Ben-Menachem noted that Hezbollah is credited with achieving the agreement and presenting it as a victory.

He considered that two elements subjugated Lapid and Gantz to sign the maritime agreement with Lebanon. The first was Biden, who wants to secure gas for Europe amid the war in Ukraine, while the second is Hezbollah.

The Israeli expert noted that in Lebanon, they reject claims that the agreement on the maritime borders is the beginning of a normalization process with the Israeli occupation.

Israeli media: Maritime deal united Lebanese, divided Israelis

Israeli media also reported on Monday that "Lebanon is united over the maritime agreement, and "Israel" is divided."

In the details, the Israeli channel KAN said that "a country suffering from conflict and is politically divided, such as Lebanon, appears more united than Israel with regard to everything related to the issue of the dispute on the maritime borders."

A couple of days ago, a Lebanese source concerned with the demarcation negotiations confirmed to Al Mayadeen that "Lebanon obtained, in the written proposal it received from the Americans, all its demands," adding that "Lebanon has not and will not give Israel any security zone that it previously demanded."

In turn, Israeli media said that the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, "succeeded in the battle of awareness in the negotiations to demarcate the maritime borders."