Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Monday vowed to begin production at the Karish natural gas field in the Mediterranean Sea as soon as it is technically feasible, sending an indirect warning to the terrorist group Hezbollah, which has unjustifiably claimed Israel was breaching the maritime border.
Lapid's announcement in a statement from his office came at a sensitive time in long-running efforts by a US mediator to resolve the dispute over the countries' maritime border. U.S. officials have said they are making progress, but need more time to reach a solution.
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Lapid said on Twitter that an agreement with Lebanon, which he said would benefit both countries, was within reach. Lapid stressed, "Israel believes that it is both possible and necessary to reach an agreement on a maritime line between Lebanon and Israel, in a manner that will serve the interests of the citizens of both countries." He added, "such an agreement will be greatly beneficial and strengthen regional stability. Israel thanks the American mediator for his hard work to bring about an agreement," but warned that "the production of gas from the Karish rig is not connected to these negotiations, and the production of gas from the rig will commence without delay, as soon as it is possible."
Lapid noted that production from the Karish gas field is not connected to the negotiations. Israel set up a gas rig at Karish in June, saying the field is part of its UN-recognized exclusive economic zone. Lebanon insists Karish is in disputed waters. In July, the Israeli military shot down three unarmed Hezbollah drones flying over the Karish field. Hezbollah's leader issued a warning to Israel over the maritime dispute, saying that "any arm" that reaches to steal Lebanon's wealth "will be cut off."
The heavily armed Hezbollah, which fought a monthlong war against Israel in 2006, has repeatedly said in the past that it would use its weapons to protect Lebanon's economic rights. Still, Hezbollah officials have said they would endorse a deal reached between Lebanon's government and Israel. Israel considers Hezbollah to be one of its greatest threats.
The two countries, which have been officially at war since Israel's creation in 1948, both claim some 860 square kilometers (330 square miles) of the Mediterranean Sea. Lebanon hopes to unleash offshore oil and gas production as it grapples with the worst economic crisis in its modern history.
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