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A map shows the offshore block 9, center, which Israel claims, at the Energy ministry, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018. Lebanon's Energy Minister Cezar Abi Khalil has vowed the country will go ahead in its oil and gas exploration tender near its maritime border with Israel despite Israeli claims the block 9 field belongs to it. The Lebanese Cabinet approved in December 2017 licenses for three international companies to carry out exploratory drilling off for the 10 offshore blocks to determine whether oil and gas exist in the area. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
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Lebanon blasts Israel over oil exploration near border

Hussein Malla

Lebanon blasts Israel over oil exploration near border

Lebanon's oil minister has vowed Beirut will go ahead in its oil and gas exploration tender near its maritime border with Israel despite Israeli claims to the field

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s energy minister vowed Thursday that Beirut will go ahead with oil and gas exploration near its maritime border with Israel, despite Israeli claims to the field that provoked wide condemnation in the tiny Arab country.

Cesar Abi Khalil’s comments to The Associated Press came a day after Israel’s defense minister described as “very provocative” Lebanon’s offshore oil and gas exploration on the countries’ maritime border and suggested that Lebanon had sought bids from international companies for a gas field “which is by all accounts ours.”

The Israeli official’s comments drew sharp condemnation from the militant Hezbollah group and Lebanese officials, including Prime Minister Saad Hariri, a Western ally, who described Lieberman’s comments as a “blatant provocation that Lebanon rejects.”

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In December, the Lebanese Cabinet approved licenses for three international companies to carry out exploratory drilling off the Lebanese coast. The licenses will allow Italy’s Eni, France’s Total and Russia’s Novatek, who bid for two of Lebanon’s 10 offshore blocks, to determine whether oil and gas exist.

“We consider this statement as an aggression on Lebanon’s sovereignty to practice its natural right to explore our oil resources,” Abi Khalil said in his office. He added that the block that is on the border with Israel is “inside Lebanese territorial waters and Lebanon demarcated maritime borders in accordance with international laws.”

Abi Khalil said Beirut had informed the United Nations by giving locations of its border after it was demarcated. Abi Khalil said the three companies will begin drilling in 2019 and depending on what they find, the country will put forward more blocks for oil companies to bid for.

A major find in Lebanon’s southernmost waters could raise the possibility of a dispute with Israel, which is developing a number of offshore gas deposits, with one large field, Tamar, already producing gas, and the larger Leviathan field set to go online next year.

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There are over 800 square kilometers (300 square miles) of waters claimed by the two countries, which are technically in a state of conflict. Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war in 2006.

“We will use all available means to protect our rights in our Lebanese waters,” Abi Khalil said.

First Published: February 1, 2018, 5:00 a.m.
Updated: February 1, 2018, 7:08 p.m.

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A map shows the offshore block 9, center, which Israel claims, at the Energy ministry, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018. Lebanon's Energy Minister Cezar Abi Khalil has vowed the country will go ahead in its oil and gas exploration tender near its maritime border with Israel despite Israeli claims the block 9 field belongs to it. The Lebanese Cabinet approved in December 2017 licenses for three international companies to carry out exploratory drilling off for the 10 offshore blocks to determine whether oil and gas exist in the area. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)  (Hussein Malla)
A map shows the ten offshore blocks for which the Lebanese Cabinet approved licenses for three international companies to carry out exploratory drilling off the Lebanese coast in December 2017, at the Energy ministry, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018. Lebanon's Energy Minister Cezar Abi Khalil has vowed the country will go ahead in its oil and gas exploration tender near its maritime border with Israel despite Israeli claims the block 9 field belongs to it. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)  (Hussein Malla)
Lebanon's Energy Minister Cesar Abi Khalil, explains on the map about the offshore block 9 which Israel claims, during an interview with the Associated Press at his office, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018. Abi Khalil has vowed the country will go ahead in its oil and gas exploration tender near its maritime border with Israel despite Israeli claims the field belongs to it. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)  (Hussein Malla)
Lebanon's Energy Minister Cesar Abi Khalil, speaks during an interview with the Associated Press at his office, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018. Abi Khalil has vowed the country will go ahead in its oil and gas exploration tender near its maritime border with Israel despite Israeli claims the field belongs to it. The Lebanese Cabinet approved in December 2017 licenses for three international companies to carry out exploratory drilling off for the 10 offshore blocks to determine whether oil and gas exist in the area. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)  (Hussein Malla)
Hussein Malla
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