BICOM

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Michael Williams, spoke optimistically about the possibility for Lebanon and Israel to find a resolution for their maritime dispute, in an interview with Reuters yesterday. Speaking after a recent visit to Israel, he told the news agency that, ‘Neither of them is looking for a scrap on this. On the contrary they think they can de-conflict it.’ The dispute emerged in recent weeks after Lebanon submitted a claim to the UN over the maritime border between the two countries. The demarcation of the border has gained significance since Israeli and US firms discovered large gas reserves in Israeli waters close to the disputed zone. Israel has submitted its own claim with regard to the border. Israel withdrew fully from Lebanese territory in 2000, in a move endorsed by the UN. However, a maritime border between the two countries was never demarcated.

Hezbollah, which derives legitimacy be depicting itself as a ‘resistance’ force against Israel, has used bellicose language around the issue, with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warning Israel against ‘stealing’ Lebanese resources. The Jerusalem Post reported yesterday that Israel was deploying unmanned drones to protect its gas fields, fearing an attack on them by Hezbollah.