JERUSALEM – Israel on Sunday accused the Lebanese Hezbollah, Iran’s ally, of obstructing an agreement between it and Lebanon on the demarcation of the maritime border, while the accusations came a day following the Shiite group sent three reconnaissance drones to the disputed maritime region that the Israeli army said it had managed to destroy. her objection.
He said in a statement, “Today, Israeli warplanes and a missile ship intercepted 3 enemy drones that approached from the side of Lebanon towards the airspace over the economic waters of the State of Israel.”
He stated that “the marches belonging to Hezbollah were conducted from Lebanese territory towards the Karish platform, where they were intercepted at a safe distance from it.”
On June 14, the Lebanese presidency announced that President Michel Aoun had presented the US mediator in the indirect negotiations, Amos Hochstein, in response to Washington’s proposal, which it submitted months ago, regarding the demarcation of the maritime border with Israel.
Hezbollah controls the southern Lebanon border area with Israel, where Beirut and Tel Aviv dispute over a sea area of 860 square kilometers rich in oil and gas.
Hezbollah has a large arsenal of weapons and missiles, which it says are dedicated exclusively to resisting the Israeli occupation.
Lebanon considers Karish gas field part of the disputed waters with Israel, while Tel Aviv asserts that it is located within its exclusive economic zone. The Shiite Hezbollah, a staunch enemy of Israel, exercises significant influence in Lebanon.
“Hezbollah continues on the path of terrorism and undermines Lebanon’s ability to reach an agreement on maritime borders,” said Yair Lapid, the Israeli prime minister, who just took over from Naftali Bennett.
He added during the first meeting of his government, days following the dissolution of parliament in preparation for new legislative elections, that “Israel will continue to protect itself, its citizens and its interests.”
The discovery of huge gas deposits in the eastern Mediterranean in recent years aroused the appetites of neighboring countries and fueled border disputes.
Lebanon and Israel, two neighboring countries that are still officially at war, began unprecedented negotiations in October 2020, under the auspices of Washington, to demarcate the maritime borders and remove obstacles to oil and gas exploration.
The talks were suspended in May 2021 due to differences regarding the size of the disputed area, especially the Karish gas field.
Lapid, who retains his position as foreign minister, will remain acting prime minister until a new government is formed following the elections scheduled for November 1, which will be the fifth in four years.
The former journalist who founded the center party “Yesh Atid” (there is a future), will visit Paris on Tuesday as part of his first official trip. He will also receive US President Joe Biden in Israel in mid-July, which is Biden’s first tour of the region since taking office in January 2020, and it will include Saudi Arabia and other countries.