A vessel that Tel Aviv has contracted to extract gas from the Karish field, which is located in a disputed maritime zone, is set to begin extracting within weeks. In the event that no maritime border agreement is signed, Lebanese Hezbollah has vowed to attack Israeli oil and gas facilities and the latest announcement is a clear provocation. In early June, the Lebanese State warned Israel over exploiting the gas at the disputed Karish field, where a 'Energean' owned vessel had been contracted to work by Tel Aviv. On June 5, Lebanon's President, Michel Aoun, stated that extraction without the demarcation of maritime borders "constitutes a provocation and a hostile act", this was then followed by threats from Hezbollah to pursue a military option against Israel if no agreement is to be reached. Maritime border talks, mediated by the United States, have been ongoing between Beirut and Tel Aviv for years, on and off. Since 2019, the economic system of Lebanon has fell into collapse and according to some UN estimates around 80% of the Lebanese population are experiencing some form of poverty. The potentially resource rich Qana field and the Karish field, of which Lebanon claims a part to be within its legal rights, would bring in billions of dollars to a people and its economy which are now resorting, in some cases, to eating out of bins and fighting over loaves of bread. by Robert Inlakesh
Poster Comment:
Israel is also stealing natural gas from the Palestinians.