Beirut: Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah’s speech Wednesday night, in which he escalated tensions with Israel, has sparked new fears in Lebanon over a possible escalation with its southern neighbor.
The speech came amid indirect Lebanese-Israeli talks on the demarcation of the maritime border between the two countries, and followed the downing of three Hezbollah drones earlier this month by Israeli defense forces towards the Karish gas field.
Nasrallah warned that sending drones into the Mediterranean earlier this month was “a modest start where the situation could escalate,” adding that “if the outcome of the talks is negative, not only will we reach Karish, but we will Go even further than Karish.”
He noted that “the maritime boundary demarcation and Lebanon’s gas exploration and extraction is an important matter to save the country,” and stressed that “it was necessary to settle the issue once and for all through demarcation and extraction.” , otherwise we will cross all limits and turn the tables on everyone.”
In September, a liquefied natural gas production and storage vessel belonging to Energean will begin extracting gas from the Karish field at Israel’s behest, which was discovered in 2013.
A portion of the plain lies within two miles of Line 29 to the north, which is considered by Lebanon as a possible starting point of its maritime border with Israel.
According to documents submitted to the United Nations in 2011, Lebanon has recognized Line 23 as the current demarcation, and has not yet legally amended its stance, but considers Line 29 to be open to negotiation. is – while the gas field can expand well under it.
Nasrallah described the moment as a “golden opportunity” for Lebanon to harness Mediterranean gas resources, as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine created energy issues in Europe, autumn was fast approaching. .
The speech raised fears across Lebanon about a possible escalation with Israel, a point of contention amid Hezbollah’s threats to operate drones in the area with the Energean power vessel.
Christina Abi Haider, a legal expert in oil affairs, cast doubt on the feasibility of exploiting Europe’s energy issues, saying: “If we get gas, we cannot export it to Europe because we are not part of the Eastmead project.”
She told Arab News that Nasrallah’s speech would not help Lebanon’s negotiating position, adding: “Lebanon is no longer the starting point of the maritime demarcation, which means that what Nasrallah has said has no legal basis.
“Also, Hezbollah is part of the ruling class, government, and parliament, so why didn’t it push for the First Amendments?
Regarding Nasrallah’s comments and their impact on oil and gas exploration and extraction in the region, Abi Haider said: “The Israeli party is in a hurry to conclude maritime boundary demarcation talks with Lebanon as it seeks to provide stable security for its companies. In the event of any setback, in view of the high cost.
He said: “What should be known is that Israel has started the exploration phase, whereas it took us two to five years to start this phase.”
Several Lebanese politicians also criticized Nasrallah after the speech.
Walid Jumblat, head of the Progressive Socialist Party, said on social media: “Nasrullah’s speech eliminated the possibility of reaching an agreement with regard to line 23.”
Kataab Party leader Sammy Gemayel said Nasrallah “is engaging the Lebanese in a new adventure that could cost them dearly without their permission.”
Lebanese forces MP Ghayth Yazbek said: “After Nasrallah’s speech, it became clear to everyone that we have no state. Hezbollah is operating within the frame set by Iran and is not counted Lebanese. Nasrallah The claim that he speaks mostly on behalf of Lebanese and mostly Shia is false.
Yazbek said that Lebanon “cannot go to war starving. Nasrallah’s statements are nihilistic.”
MP al-Asmar called on Nasrallah to “fight corruption and not cover it with party weapons”, adding: “The decision on peace and war should be left only to the state.”
However, Gebran Basil, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, tweeted: “If you (Israel) want your gas, we need our gas too. This is how a strong state functions. That’s how it protects national dignity and so should sovereignty.”