In light of Israeli confusion and electoral flip-flops, negotiations continued and the Lebanese president’s press office announced late Sunday in a statement that President Michel Aoun had talked with US envoy Amos Hochstein, who updated him on the latest developments of the recent rounds of contacts with the Lebanese side on one hand, and the Israeli side on the other.
“The discussions were completed, remarks were made and the final version of the draft resolution will be sent in the coming hours” to both parties, according to Baabda.
Hochstein explained that the discussion rounds were concluded and the notes he will be sending in the next few hours were specified in a copy that includes the final version of the proposal related to the demarcation of the southern maritime border, a statement issued by the Presidency office read.
Hochstein thanked President Aoun and his team for the wise management of the negotiations file and the way in which the points under discussion were addressed, which facilitated the completion of the negotiations through relentless efforts in the past few days.
The Lebanese side will study the final version carefully in preparation for taking the appropriate decision, according to the state’s news agency.
Prior to Hochstein’s call, President Aoun met with Deputy Speaker of Parliament Elias Bou Saab, who briefed him on the details of his discussions with the American mediator during the past three days.
‘Israel’ in Turmoil
The Israeli rejection of the Lebanese amendments to Hochstein’s final proposal caused clamor and the accompanying Zionist threats left a negative bouncing effect on the occupation entity itself.
Al-Akhbar newspaper noted on Saturday that the two coming days will be decisive pertaining the maritime demarcation deal, citing Israeli sources which expected delaying the approval till after the Knesset elections.
After the Israeli threats, President Aoun stressed that, regardless of the Israeli stance, Lebanon may never make concessions, especially pertaining the buoys line, adding that Lebanon has the right to start extracting gas from the entire Qana field away from any Zionist intervention.
The French intervened following the latest Israeli rejection in the gas talks with Lebanon and Paris told Beirut through PM-designate Najib Mikati that “Israel does not intend to escalate,” al-Akhbar newspaper quoted prominent sources as saying.
The sources added that “the Americans are behind the Israeli stance, especially in the point related to financial compensation, seeing as the U.S. wants to help Lapid’s government in the face of the campaign that he is facing prior to the Israeli elections.”
“The insistence on the word compensation is aimed at giving the impression that Israel has managed to win a Lebanese recognition of its right to the Qana field,” the sources said.
Escalation or Confusion?
As part of the Israeli election’s ebb and flow, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz threatened anew Sunday that the Zionist entity would move ahead with plans to extract gas from the Karish field even if no deal is reached Lebanon, the Times of Israel daily has reported.
“If Hezbollah makes that mistake and attacks Israel in any way, by air, sea or land, Israel will defend itself resolutely, it will attack resolutely, and if things develop into a broader conflict, we will take Lebanon apart, and that would be a great pity,” he told Channel 12, according to the Israeli newspaper.
However, in a separate interview with Kan TV, Gantz said: “If we reach a deal with the Lebanese government it will be good for both sides. It will be good for stability and serve all players.”
Gantz brushed away Benjamin Netanyahu’s comments, saying Netanyahu “would have rushed to sign” such a deal. He added that the former premier is “engaged solely in political manipulation.”
Gantz’s office on Saturday invited Netanyahu to a security briefing to provide him with details on the proposed deal.
In turn, Energean (ENOG.L) announced on Sunday it has begun pumping gas to its floating production facility in the offshore Karish gas field as part of reverse flow testing procedures approved by the Israeli government.
It said the testing phase is an important step in the commissioning process of the so-called FPSO Energean Power facility.
Two Lebanese officials Sunday told AFP that they had been informed by the US mediator that the company Energean was only carrying out tests and had therefore not started operating the Karish field.
According to Israeli media, Iraqi hacker group “al-Tahara,” which identifies as pro-Iranian, attacked the websites for two natural gas companies on Sunday — Energean and Israeli-owned Israel Natural Gas Lines. The Energean website was inaccessible after the testing announcement.
Israelis Shall Sit Tight on Tuesday!
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah is expected to speak on the issue next Tuesday in a televised speech.
Addressing Hezbollah mourning ceremony held in Baalbek on Arbaeen, Sayyed Nasrallah reiterated a warning to the Israeli enemy, saying that the Lebanese resistance’s eyes and missiles are on Karish, the disputed gas field between Lebanon and the Zionist entity.
Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that Hezbollah’s red line is the start of oil and gas extraction in Karish and revealed that Hezbollah has delivered a behind-the-scenes message to the Israeli enemy, warning that the Tel Aviv regime is to face a true trouble if the extraction starts.
One certainty seems to be emerging for the time being: Lebanon is not about to reverse its decision on the deal’s amendments.
Source: Al-Manar English Website
