Israel-Lebanon sea border dispute looms over gas fields

[Gerald]

A maritime border dispute is looming between Israel and Lebanon that could set off a new conflict over lucrative energy reserves.

The neighbouring countries have declared overlapping boundaries in the Mediterranean Sea.

As the two states remain formally in a state of war, the United Nations has been asked to mediate.

Israel recently discovered two gas fields off its coast which experts say could turn it into an energy exporter.

It will send its proposal for a demarcation line to the UN within the next few days after the cabinet approved it on Sunday.

"This boundary will delineate the area in which the state enjoys exclusive economic rights, including the right to exploit the sea's natural resources," the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu said.

"Our goal is to determine Israel's position regarding its maritime border, in keeping with the principles of international maritime law."

The Israeli line gives it more territory than the one that Lebanon drew and submitted to the UN several months ago.

Mr Netanyahu said that the line drawn by the Lebanese conflicted both with one that Israel agreed with Cyprus and one that Lebanon agreed with Cyprus in 2007.

The Lebanese energy minister, Gebran Bassil, countered that Beirut had stuck to international law. "Lebanon has drawn its [maritime] borders based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea," AFP quoted him as saying.

He also warned that "no Lebanese will accept either the renunciation of their energy resources or their maritime rights".

Big finds:

Israel has long been dependant on energy imports in a largely hostile region. The problems that can ensue have been highlighted by recent attacks on pipelines bringing gas from Egypt, to the south.

While small commercial quantities of offshore gas had been found in the past, officials believe two recent major discoveries could eventually supply all the country's energy needs and enable it to export.

The Tamar field, 90km off (55 miles) the coast of northern Israel, was the world's largest gas find in 2009. Production is expected to begin within three years.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14104695


Note: 11 July 2011 Last updated at 12:03 GMT

"Our goal is to determine Israel's position regarding its maritime border, in keeping with the principles of international maritime law."

To determine Israels position regarding its maritime border in keeping with the principles of international maritime law means in this case they first have to have a land border to work off....damn those non existant borders eh

[Rockstar]

Actually maritime borders have existed, in fact Lebanon agreed to it with Cyprus in 2007. But now that gas fields have been discovered just outside that agreed upon border. They seem to want to claim it was a mistake and didn't really mean to agree to the southern border and are trying to work around it because their parliment didn't ratify it.

Now that the real nature and size of these gas fields are known they cry foul.


Another good example why governments sign treaties but do not ratify them.


.

[TLAM Strike]

Wild guess but I'd wager it will be an Iranian company who builds and operates any Lebanese offshore drilling rigs.

No need to inspect those crates, its just our drilling equipment...

Actually maritime borders have existed, in fact Lebanon agreed to it with Cyprus in 2007.

If they existed then that would be valid, but they don't so they are not.
What you have are agreements between two different parties and a third party but no agreement between the two parties themselves and no joint agreement with the third party....which unfortunately puts the needed agreement between Israel and Lebanon and between Israel Cyprus and Lebanon firmly into the non existant stage.

Look at it another way, where does Israel, Lebanon and Cyprus recognise as the maritime border of the Republic of Northern Cyprus?
Same issue again especially in relation to oil exploration and pipelines but for fun it also adds two other countries into the mix as well as an occupied territory.

[Rockstar]

Originally Posted by Tribesman

If they existed then that would be valid, but they don't so they are not.
What you have are agreements between two different parties and a third party but no agreement between the two parties themselves and no joint agreement with the third party....which unfortunately puts the needed agreement between Israel and Lebanon and between Israel Cyprus and Lebanon firmly into the non existant stage.

Look at it another way, where does Israel, Lebanon and Cyprus recognise as the maritime border of the Republic of Northern Cyprus?
Same issue again especially in relation to oil exploration and pipelines but for fun it also adds two other countries into the mix as well as an occupied territory.

I could see your point if Israel and Cyprus were the ones that drew up the borders. Lebanon would actually have a legitimate arguement if that were the case. From what I know of the treaty it was Lebanon's own government which agreed to and published these maritime borders. I think too even UNCLOS, of which both Cyprus and Lebanon are signatories, had knowledge and approved it.

IMO the border is only now being argued a 'mistake' in an attempt to keep Israel from exploiting needed resources.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Wild guess but I'd wager it will be an Iranian company who builds and operates any Lebanese offshore drilling rigs.

No need to inspect those crates, its just our drilling equipment...

That's an interesting drill bit