- 13 mei 2011
Lebanese figures urge govt. formation
Dozens of prominent Lebanese Muslim and Christian religious figures along with other officials have called for the immediate formation of a Lebanonese government.
At a summit, held at the headquarters of the Maronite Christian church on the outskirts of Beirut, the religious figures pointed to the country's political vacuum, which has lasted for over three months, calling on Lebanese political leaders to form a new government as quickly as possible, a Press TV correspondent reported on Thursday.
“All political factions should work together to form a government as soon as possible. The future government should act within the framework of the constitution,” said Mohammad Sammak of Christian-Muslim Committee for Dialogue.
In a speech at the opening of the summit, head of the Maronite Church in Lebanon Bshara Arrai emphasized that Lebanon's religious diversity should be utilized in favor of national and regional interests.
“Dialogue between Christians and Muslims will ensure future cooperation and coexistence. It can also help Lebanon become a role model for regional peace and harmony,” he said.
Lebanon's political landscape has witnessed major rifts and disputes. Many political observers blame caretaker Premier Saad Hariri for the political uncertainty, labeling him as Saudi Arabia's main man in Lebanon and even the region.
In late January, Lebanese President Michel Sleiman issued a decree, appointing Hezbollah-backed candidate Najib Mikati as the country's new prime minister, tasking him with forming a new government.
Mikati's appointment came following the collapse of Hariri's government in early January.
Hariri's administration fell apart after the resignation of eleven ministers from the coalition cabinet in a dispute over the US-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) investigating the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Premier Rafiq Hariri, Saad's father.
Rafiq Hariri was killed along with more than 20 other people in a massive car bombing in the Lebanese capital of Beirut in February 2005.
According to reports, the US-backed tribunal intends to charge some members of Hezbollah with the Hariri assassination.
Hezbollah, however, has fiercely denied any involvement in the assassination, describing the US-sponsored tribunal as part of an American-Israeli conspiracy against Lebanon.
http://fwd4.me/01U0 15 jul 2011, 10:03 , Respect -
Maria 22 juni 2011
Hezbollah nabs Israel spies within ranks
Lebanon's resistance movement Hezbollah has arrested several people within its own ranks on suspicion of spying for Israel's intelligence service, Mossad.
According to the Lebanese sources, more than 10 Hezbollah members, among them high-ranking figures, were arrested over the past few days for collaborating with Israel.
Mohammad Atwi from the Nabatiyeh district in south Lebanon, who was responsible for organizing security within the party and coordinating activities with Iran and Syria, is one of the high ranking Hezbollah officials arrested in this regard, the Kuwaiti newspaper al-Rai reported.
A cleric is also reported to be among the suspected Israeli spies.
"A group of Hezbollah members were detained in the past few days for collaborating with Israel,” an unnamed Hezbollah source told Now Lebanon but refused to disclose the number of those detained or their position in the party.
The Lebanese resistance movement says the detainees are being interrogated, adding that some have confessed to spying for Mossad while others deny the charges.
Hezbollah says it discovered the spy cell three months ago after very crucial information about the movement was passed to Israel.
Several prominent Lebanese figures, including members of the army, politics and business, have been arrested over the last two years on charges of spying for Israel.
Tel Aviv has launched an intelligence war against Hezbollah following its defeat during the 33-day war against the Lebanese resistance movement in 2006.
If convicted, the spies will face life sentences with hard labor. Should they be found guilty of contributing to the loss of the Lebanese life, the agents will face capital punishment.
Lebanese President Michel Sleiman has called for severe punishment for Israeli spies, saying he would sign death sentences handed down by the court.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/185827.html 29 jul 2011, 09:43 , Respect -
Maria 24 juni 2011
Weak Israel resorts to spying: Nasrallah
Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah
Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah says Israel is not capable of infiltrating the resistance movement's infrastructure.
In a speech broadcast on closed-circuit television in Lebanon on Friday, Nasrallah said Israel has even lost the military capability to protect itself, adding that its incompetence has forced it to resort to the CIA's capabilities.
On Wednesday, Hezbollah announced that it had arrested over ten of its members, among them high-ranking figures, on suspicion of spying for Israel's intelligence service, the Mossad.
During his speech, the Hezbollah leader noted that Israel asked the US Central Intelligence Agency for help in obtaining information about the resistance movement.
Nasrallah also accused the US Embassy in Lebanon of conducting espionage missions for Israel.
He explained that the security wing of Hezbollah has uncovered three cases of espionage, which show that US Embassy officials have been spying on behalf of Israel.
The Hezbollah leader gave assurances that none of the spies have been able to obtain sensitive intelligence that could harm the resistance movement.
Israel launched an intelligence war against Hezbollah following its defeat in the 33-day war against the Lebanese resistance movement in 2006.
If convicted, the spies will face life sentences with hard labor. Should they be found guilty of contributing to the death of a Lebanese citizen, the agents will face the death penalty.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/186098.html 3 aug 2011, 23:33 , Respect -
Maria 1 juli 2011
Israel violates Lebanon's airspace
Two Israeli reconnaissance planes have violated Lebanese airspace and flown over the southern part of the country in clear violation of a UN Security Council resolution.
An Israeli aircraft crossed into Lebanese airspace over the village of al-Naqoura, located 91 kilometers (57 miles) south of the capital Beirut at 7:00 a.m. (0400 GMT) on Thursday and conducted several unwarranted flights above southern Lebanon, according to a statement released by the Lebanese military.
The remote-controlled drone left Lebanese airspace at 3:05 p.m. local time (0005 GMT) on Friday while flying over the southern village of Rmeish.
Another Israeli drone infringed upon the Lebanese airspace at 9:10 p.m. local time (1810 GMT) on Thursday and carried out covert surveillance fights over Beirut and Tyre, located about 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Beirut.
The aircraft flew over the southern city of Sidon at 00:10 p.m. local time on Friday (2110 GMT on Thursday) and left.
Israel violates Lebanon's airspace on an almost daily basis, claiming the flights serve surveillance purposes.
Lebanon's government, the Hezbollah resistance movement and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, have repeatedly condemned the overflights, saying they are in clear violation of UN Resolution 1701 and the country's sovereignty.
UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which brokered a ceasefire in the war Israel launched against Lebanon in 2006, calls on Tel Aviv to respect Beirut's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In 2009, Lebanon filed a complaint with the United Nations presenting over 7,000 documents pertaining to Israeli violation of Lebanese territory.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/187071.html
5 juli 2011
Israeli jets violate Lebanese airspace
Six Israeli military aircraft have again penetrated Lebanese airspace and flown over parts of the country in blatant violation of a UN Security Council resolution.
The Israeli warplanes flew over the border village of Kfar Kila, located 96 kilometers (59 miles) south of the capital Beirut, at 10:05 a.m. (0705 GMT) on Monday and conducted several unwarranted flights over areas in southern Lebanon, said a statement released by the Lebanese military.
The Israeli warplanes left the Lebanese airspace at 11:35 a.m. local time (0835 GMT) while flying over southern sector of the country.
Earlier in the day, two remote-controlled Israeli drones infringed upon the Lebanese airspace and carried out surveillance fights over the village of al-Naqoura, located 91 kilometers (57 miles) south of Beirut and the southern village of Rmeish.
The aircraft flew over the southern areas of Lebanon at 3:55 p.m. local time (1255 GMT) and 6:05 p.m. local time (1505 GMT) on Monday and left.
Israel violates Lebanon's airspace on an almost daily basis, claiming the flights serve surveillance purposes.
Lebanon's government, the Hezbollah resistance movement, and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, have repeatedly condemned the overflights, saying they are in clear violation of UN Resolution 1701 and the country's sovereignty.
UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which brokered a ceasefire in the war Israel launched against Lebanon in 2006, calls on Tel Aviv to respect Beirut's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In 2009, Lebanon filed a complaint with the United Nations, submitting over 7,000 documents pertaining to Israeli violations of the Lebanese territory.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/187596.html
10 juli 2011
Ten Israeli aircraft enter Lebanon
Ten Israeli military aircraft have once again penetrated Lebanese airspace and flown over parts of the country in blatant violation of a UN Security Council resolution.
Six Israeli warplanes flew over the border village of Kfar Kila, located 96 kilometers (59 miles) south of the capital Beirut, at 9:50 a.m. (0650 GMT) on Sunday and conducted several unwarranted flights above areas in southern Lebanon, a statement released by the Lebanese military read.
The Israeli warplanes left the Lebanese airspace at 11:00 a.m. local time (0800 GMT) while flying over the southern border town of Alma al-Shaab.
Meanwhile, two Israeli fighters violated Lebanese airspace at 10:05 a.m. local time (0705 GMT), and flew over southern part of the country. The jets left at 11:45 a.m. local time (0845 GMT).
Two remote-controlled Israeli drones also entered the Lebanese airspace and carried out covert surveillance fights over the village of al-Naqoura, located 91 kilometers (57 miles) south of Beirut, and the southern village of Rmeish.
The aircraft flew over the southern areas of Lebanon at 2:10 p.m. local time (1110 GMT) and 4:00 p.m. local time (1300 GMT) on Sunday and left.
Israel violates Lebanon's airspace on an almost daily basis, claiming the flights serve surveillance purposes.
Lebanon's government, the Hezbollah resistance movement and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have repeatedly condemned the overflights, saying they are in clear violation of UN Resolution 1701 and the country's sovereignty.
Resolution 1701, which brokered a ceasefire in the war Israel launched against Lebanon in 2006, calls on Tel Aviv to respect Beirut's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In 2009, Lebanon filed a complaint with the United Nations presenting over 7,000 documents pertaining to Israeli violation of Lebanese territory.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/188504.html 13 aug 2011, 18:06 , Respect -
Maria 11 juli 2011
Lebanon, Israel at odds on sea border, gas rights
JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Israel's cabinet approved on Sunday a map of the Jewish state's proposed maritime borders with Lebanon to be submitted for a UN opinion, in a brewing dispute between the neighbors over offshore gas fields.
Lebanon's Energy Minister Gebran Bassil countered that Beirut will not give up its maritime rights.
Israel's proposed map lays out maritime borders that conflict significantly with those suggested by Lebanon in its own submission to the United Nations.
"The cabinet today approved the draft of the northern maritime border of Israel," said a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.
"This line demarcates the area of the state's economic rights, including the exploitation of natural resources."
Israel's map could bring it into fresh conflict with Lebanon, with both countries disagreeing on where the border lies.
"The outline that Lebanon submitted to the UN is significantly further south than the line Israel is proposing," Netanyahu said at the meeting.
"It also conflicts with the line that we have agreed upon with Cyprus and, what is more significant in my eyes, it conflicts with the line that Lebanon itself agreed upon with Cyprus in 2007."
"Our goal is to determine Israel's position regarding its maritime border, in keeping with the principles of international maritime law," Netanyahu said.
Israel has been moving to develop several large offshore natural gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean, some which is shared with Cyprus, that it hopes could help it to become an energy exporter.
But its development plans have stirred controversy with Lebanon, which argues the gas fields lie inside its territorial waters. Israel does not have officially demarcated maritime borders with Lebanon, and the two nations remain technically at war.
In Beirut, Bassil told AFP: "We will see what Israel sends to the United Nations. We have no a priori (position). If it respects international law, there is no problem."
However, he warned that "no Lebanese will accept either the renunciation of their energy resources or their maritime rights."
"Lebanon has drawn its borders (maritime) based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea," Bassil said.
"Israel has not yet signed and must respect international law by acceding to the Convention ... or should remain silent and stop referring to international laws," said Bassil.
But Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said his country was convinced it would win support for its position at the United Nations.
"We will soon be presenting the United Nations headquarters in New York with our position on our maritime borders," Lieberman told Israeli public radio.
"We have already concluded an agreement on this issue with Cyprus... Lebanon, under pressure from Hezbollah, is looking for friction, but we will not give up any part of what is rightfully ours," he charged.
Bassil dismissed the charge as "a prelude to aggression to which we have become accustomed," citing Israeli "violations of (Lebanese) waters, territory and airspace, and today our oil rights."
The two biggest-known offshore fields, Tamar and Leviathan, lie 130 kilometers (80 miles) off Israel's northern city of Haifa.
An Israeli company has in recent weeks also announced the discovery of two new natural gas fields, Sarah and Mira, around 70 kilometers (45 miles) off the city of Hadera further south.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=404097 15 aug 2011, 12:41 , Respect -
Maria 13 juli 2011
Lebanon warns Israel against sea border move
BEIRUT (AFP) -- Israel's proposed maritime border with Lebanon threatens regional security, Lebanon's foreign minister said on Monday, as a feud over offshore gas fields between the two enemy states deepens.
"Israel's measures have created a new point of tension in the region and threaten peace and security across this region," Foreign Minister Adnan Mansur told reporters in Beirut.
Mansur said the border as proposed by Israel cut through Lebanon's economic zone, adding his country would "turn to the United Nations".
Lebanon's president on Monday also warned Israel over the demarcation of the shared maritime border.
"President Michel Sleiman warns against any unilateral decisions Israel may take on maritime borders which would be a breach of international law, as is Israel's habit," read a statement from his office.
"Lebanon will defend its rights and resources by any and all legitimate means."
Sleiman said the issue would be up for discussion at the first meeting of Lebanon's new government, which on Thursday won a vote of confidence in parliament.
While Prime Minister Najib Mikati's government is dominated by the Shiite group Hezbollah, the last Western-backed Lebanese government took a similar stand in the conflict over offshore gas reserves.
Israel's cabinet on Sunday approved a map of the country's proposed maritime borders with Lebanon to be submitted for a UN opinion.
The proposed map lays out maritime borders that conflict significantly with those suggested by Lebanon in its own submission to the United Nations.
Lebanon's Energy Minister Gibran Bassil said Beirut will not give up its maritime rights, and accused Israel of "violations of (Lebanese) waters, territory and airspace, and today our oil rights."
Israel has for months been moving to develop several large offshore natural gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean, some which are shared with Cyprus, that it hopes could help it to become an energy exporter.
But its development plans have stirred controversy with Lebanon, which argues the gas fields lie inside its territorial waters.
Israel does not have officially demarcated maritime borders with Lebanon, and the two nations remain technically at war.
Hezbollah in 2006 fought a deadly war with Israel which destroyed most of Lebanon's major infrastructure.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=404336 18 aug 2011, 09:15 , Respect -
Maria 14 juli 2011
Hezbollah: We won't let Israel take our gas
Top official in Shiite organization says 'Israeli threats don't frighten Lebanon. We won't change our position, fight to maintain our rights at all cost'.
Hezbollah flexing muscles over maritime border dispute with Israel – Deputy Chief of Hezbollah, Sheik Naim Kassam said that "Lebanon will not permit gas or oil to be extracted from its land or territorial waters.
"We will continue to closely follow the situation in order to restore Lebanon's rights, at whatever cost necessary,' he said.
In a speech on Wednesday, Hassan Nasrallah's deputy noted that "Hezbollah supports the national position to defend the country's maritime rights and the government's delineation of a maritime border."
Kassam commented on Israel's remarks vis-à-vis the maritime border, saying: "The Israeli threats do not frighten us. We will not change our position and continue to maintain our rights.
"Israel knows its threats fall on deaf ears in Lebanon, after it tasted the bitter taste of the mighty Lebanese resistance."
On Monday Lebanese President Michel Suleiman warned Israel against "taking any unilateral decision regarding the maritime border, which violates international law – as it often does on many matters."
Suleiman's comments came after Jerusalem handed the United Nations its position on Israel's maritime border with the Land of Cedars, by which the border should be drawn further north, leaving Israel an area thought to contain natural gas as well as oil reserves.
According to Israel, the coordinates Lebanon reported to the UN contradict the border delineation agreement signed between Beirut and Cyprus in 2007.
http://fwd4.me/06as 23 aug 2011, 21:05 , Respect -
Maria 17 juli 2011
Hezbollah warns Israel over Med gas
BEIRUT (AFP) -- Lebanon's Shiite group Hezbollah on Sunday warned Israel against developing "a single meter" of disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean to search for offshore gas deposits.
The Lebanese government, which is dominated by Hezbollah, will restore the sovereignty of our waters in their entirety," said Mohammed Raad, head of the Hezbollah group in parliament, the state news agency ANI reported.
"The Israeli enemy cannot drill a single meter in these waters to search for gas and oil if the zone is disputed ... No company can carry out prospecting work in waters whose sovereignty is contested," he said.
Hezbollah in 2006 fought a deadly war with Israel in which most of Lebanon's major infrastructure was destroyed.
Last week, Lebanon's Foreign Minister Adnan Mansur said the maritime border as proposed by Israel posed a threat to regional security.
The proposed frontier cuts through Lebanon's economic zone, he said, adding that Beirut would "turn to the United Nations."
The feud over offshore gas fields has deepened since Israel's cabinet on July 12 approved a map of the country's proposed maritime borders with Lebanon to be submitted for a UN opinion.
The proposed map lays out maritime borders that conflict significantly with those suggested by Lebanon in its own submission to the United Nations.
Lebanon's Energy Minister Gibran Bassil has said Beirut will not give up its maritime rights, and accused Israel of "violations of (Lebanese) waters, territory and airspace, and today our oil rights."
Israel has for months been moving to develop several large offshore natural gas fields, some which are shared with Cyprus, that it hopes could help it to become an energy exporter.
But its development plans have stirred controversy with Lebanon, which argues the gas fields lie inside its territorial waters.
Israel does not have officially demarcated maritime borders with Lebanon, and the two nations remain technically at war.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=406087
21 juli 2011
Israeli planes violate Lebanese airspace
Four Israeli reconnaissance planes have violated Lebanon's airspace and flown over the country in flagrant violation of a UN Security Council resolution.
The Lebanese army said in a statement that the incursion happened over the country's southern border on Wednesday, a Press TV correspondent reported.
Israel violates Lebanon's airspace on an almost daily basis, claiming the flights serve surveillance purposes.
Lebanon's government, the Hezbollah resistance movement, and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, have repeatedly condemned the overflights, saying they are in clear violation of UN Resolution 1701 and the country's sovereignty.
UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which brokered a ceasefire in the war of aggression Israel launched against Lebanon in 2006, calls on Tel Aviv to respect Beirut's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/190036.html 3 sep 2011, 10:56 , Respect -
Maria 22 juli 2011
UN to intervene in Lebanon-Israel border tension
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzvPDFbKwL8
Lebanon’s struggle with Israel has lately been amplified to include a conflict at sea.
UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams said that disputes over maritime delimitations between Israel and Lebanon could threaten peace and security. This comes after a consultative session regarding UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s report on the implementation of Resolution 1701.
Lebanon’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Nawwaf Salam accused Israel of unilaterally and illegitimately establishing a line of buoys in Lebanon’s territorial waters.
The situation could be further complicated since the UN interim force in Lebanon Known as UNIFL has no mandate to demarcate the maritime borders between Lebanon and Israel.
UNIFIL deputy spokesman Andrea Tenenti showed us that the Israeli buoys can clearly be seen from Lebanese shores. These are merely technical borders he told us, but UNIFIL is ready to be mediator in further talks to resolve the conflict.
However, Lebanon is a member of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea while Israel has not even signed the treaty:
Lebanon has strongly opposed Israel’s proposed maritime border which it believes clearly overlaps Lebanon’s map especially in this area- the southern Lebanese villages. Since Israel has not signed the international treaty on the law of the sea, observers fear Israeli unilateral action to begin digging for natural resources could be considered a renewed invasion of Lebanon which could even annul UN security resolution 1701 altogether.
Lebanese officials believe that preparing a draft-law that confirms Lebanon’s rights of the fields in the contested areas is a priority, something which will be addressed in the next parliamentary session.
Hezbollah has warned Israel against violating Lebanese waters saying that the Lebanese government, in cooperation with Hezbollah’s resistance and the Lebanese Army will restore the sovereignty of its waters. Lebanon says it has recorded some 8 thousand Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty.
Israel’s cabinet has approved a map of the country’s proposed maritime borders with Lebanon to be submitted for a U.N. opinion.
Israel has for months been moving to develop several large offshore natural gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean.
http://fwd4.me/07PX
UN to intervene in Israel-Lebanon naval dispute?
Lebanese paper reports, high-ranking UN official willing to intervening in demarcation of sea border to prevent escalation.
The United Nations is ready to get involved in the dispute over Lebanon and Israel’s maritime borders, Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star reported Friday.
A senior diplomatic source told the paper that high-ranking UN officials were “open” to the idea of intervening in the demarcation of a sea border between Lebanon and Israel, in order to allow each country to legitimately commence natural gas exploration.
“The point of getting a border in place is to avoid sources of conflict. And this is the major source of conflict,” the source said.
Meanwhile, UNIFIL forces are working to establish a naval security strip in coordination with Lebanon and Israel. “This will help maritime security and prevent hostile activities,” UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told The Daily Star.
He nevertheless stressed that UNIFIL's involvement would only apply to matters of security and not that of natural resources. “UNIFIL has no mandate to demarcate the line. A boundary is for the states to decide,” he said.
Last week, Israel decided to present its position on the matter before the United Nations. Israel claims that the border should be drawn further to the north leaving it with territory which some estimate contains natural gas reserves.
Israel claimed that the coordinates provided to the UN by Lebanon do not match those stipulated in the border agreement Beirut signed with Cyprus in 2007.
This prompted outrage in Lebanon, with statements on the matter coming from Lebanese President Michel Suleiman and Hezbollah secretary general.
http://fwd4.me/07Hl 8 sep 2011, 11:13 , Respect -
Maria 23 juli 2011
Lebanon to define sea border with Israel
Lebanese parliament
The Lebanese parliament is set to review a law to outline its maritime border with Israel, a Lebanese minister says, following a dispute with Tel Aviv over sea boundaries.
Lebanese Minister of Energy and Water Resources Gebran Bassil said the country's cabinet and parliament have set plans to place the issue of Lebanon's maritime border with Israel on the agenda and discuss the case so that the country can start exploring offshore gas and oil resources.
“Any laxity from our part will be used by Israel to harm Lebanon,” Xinhua quoted Bassil as saying on Friday.
The decision to delineate the Middle Eastern country's maritime borders was made in response to Israel's plans to explore gas, with the help of American energy companies, near Lebanese territorial waters.
Israel's drilling plans came after a US-Israeli consortium's announcement of the discovery of major gas reserves in Lebanon's territorial waters.
Earlier, Head of the Hezbollah bloc in the Lebanese parliament Mohammed Raad warned Israel against violating Lebanon's sovereignty by exploring disputed waters to search for gas and oil in the Mediterranean Sea.
Israel set a maritime boundary with Lebanon and submitted the document to the United Nations earlier this month. Lebanon, however, submitted its proposed maritime boundary with Israel to the United Nations over a year ago. Yet, the Israeli map conflicts significantly with the one Lebanon provided.
Meanwhile, the energy committee of the Lebanese parliament announced that Lebanon might be obliged to lodge a complaint against Israel before the UN Security Council after Tel Aviv's proposed maritime borders, which were approved earlier this month, allegedly infringed on 860 square kilometers of the Lebanese waters.
Israel has said it is eyeing the Leviathan natural gas field near Haifa, which extends into the Lebanese waters. The Leviathan field could hold as much as 16 trillion square feet of natural gas (valued at more than USD 95 billion) and, 4.2 billion barrels of oil.
The field is located in the joint regional waters between Lebanon and northern Palestine. Lebanon contends that it owns a major part of Leviathan.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/190346.html 9 sep 2011, 15:39 , Respect -
Maria 26 juli 2011
Nasrallah warns Israel against theft
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCPHFx87OIM
Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah has warned Israel against encroaching on Lebanon's territorial waters and stealing its oil and gas reserves.
In a televised speech on Tuesday to mark the fifth anniversary of Hezbollah victory against Israel in the July 2006 war, Nasrallah warned that the resistance movement will confront any aggressive attempt by Tel Aviv to carry out oil and gas exploration in the Lebanese territorial waters.
Hezbollah secretary general warned that any damage to Lebanon's future oil facilities will be retaliated.
"Those who harm our installations will have their own installations harmed," he warned. "We warn Israel not to touch this area or try to steal Lebanon's resources."
Nasrallah said that the reserves could provide Lebanon with a “golden opportunity” to rebuild its economy.
Hezbollah's secretary general stressed that any possible war against Lebanon will have disastrous consequences for Israel.
Enemy is aware of the reality that the Lebanese resistance movement is today stronger than ever, Nasrallah stated.
He also noted that billions of dollars are being spent on tarnishing Hezbollah's image, because Israel did not achieve its aims during its war against Lebanon.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/190945.html
11 Israeli aircraft skim over Lebanon
Eleven Israeli military aircraft have penetrated Lebanese airspace and flown over parts of the country in flagrant violation of a UN Security Council resolution.
Eight Israeli fighter jets crossed into Lebanese airspace over the southern section of the country at 10:55 a.m. local time (0755 GMT) on Monday and conducted several unwarranted sorties in the area, according to a statement released by the Lebanese military.
The Israeli warplanes left the Lebanese airspace at 12:35 p.m. local time (0935GMT) while flying over the village of al-Naqoura, situated 91 kilometers (57 miles) south of the capital Beirut.
Earlier in the day, two remotely-controlled drones infringed upon the Lebanese airspace over the border village of Kfar Kila, located 96 kilometers (59 miles) south of Beirut, at 10:35 a.m. (0735 GMT) and carried out covert surveillance fights over various sectors of Lebanon.
The aircraft flew over the village of al-Naqoura at 11:30 p.m. local time (0830 GMT) and left.
Meanwhile, an Israeli drone violated Lebanese airspace at around 9:00 p.m. local time (1800 GMT) on Monday and carried out covert surveillance sorties over Beirut and Tyre, located about 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Beirut.
The aircraft left the Lebanese skies at 11:35 p.m. local time (2035 GMT).
Israel violates Lebanon's airspace on an almost daily basis, claiming the flights serve surveillance purposes.
Lebanon's government, the Hezbollah resistance movement and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, have repeatedly condemned the overflights, saying they are in clear violation of UN Resolution 1701 and the country's sovereignty.
UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which brokered a ceasefire in the war Israel launched against Lebanon in 2006, calls on Tel Aviv to respect Beirut's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In 2009, Lebanon filed a complaint with the United Nations presenting over 7,000 documents pertaining to Israeli violation of Lebanese territory.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/190795.html 12 sep 2011, 17:25 , Respect -
Maria 2 aug 2011
Hezbollah: Israel targeted all of Lebanon
Lebanese soldiers take up positions in the Wazzani border area on August 1, 2011.
The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah says the recent Israeli attack on the Lebanese Army is tantamount to an offensive against the entire country.
On Monday, the Israeli military opened fire on a military base in the Wazzani border area in southern Lebanon, prompting the Lebanese soldiers to fire back.
At least one Lebanese national was reportedly wounded in the incident.
Afterwards the Lebanese military declared a state of alert.
“Any attack against any element of the army, people, and resistance equation is an assault against the whole of Lebanon,” Hezbollah said in a statement issued in response to the Israeli aggression, the Lebanese news portal Naharnet reported.
Hezbollah stated that the attack was carried out “in a provocative and surprising way.”
“This crime is a reminder for the Lebanese people of the aggressive nature of the Zionist enemy and its greed in the Lebanese territory,” the statement added.
In August 2010, three Lebanese soldiers, a Lebanese journalist, and a senior Israeli officer were killed during an exchange of fire that broke out after an Israeli patrol unit crossed the Lebanese border.
It was the deadliest incident initiated by Israel against Lebanon since the 2006 war, which killed around 1,200 Lebanese. Most of the victims were civilians.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/191904.html
Report: Lebanese soldier shot on Israel border
TEL AVIV, Israel (Ma'an) -- The Israeli army shot a Lebanese soldier during an exchange of gunfire early Monday on the border between the two countries, Israeli media said.
Israel's Haaretz newspaper said soldiers traded fire in the Mount Dov region on the border.
Initial reports said a Lebanese soldier died in the exchange, the first since Israel's army opened fire and killed 10 Lebanese nationals during protests in May.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=409967
Lebanese army, IDF exchange fire
Shooting incident on northern border: IDF sources say troops returned fire after being shot at by Lebanese forces, who believed troops had crossed border. Lebanese news agencies report one soldier injured.
Lebanese soldiers opened fire on IDF soldiers patrolling the northern border Monday near the northern village of Maayan Baruch, military sources said.
No one was injured on the Israeli side, but Lebanese news agencies reported that a Lebanese soldier was injured when the troops returned fire.
A preliminary investigation shows that Lebanese forces opened fire because they thought the IDF soldiers had crossed the border.
But IDF sources are insisting that the Israeli troops remained on their side. They say a Paratroopers force was on vehicular patrol when suddenly they were fired upon, and returned fire with their rifles.
Immediately afterwards the army filed a complaint with UNIFIL, saying the force was shot at without cause. The sources say the incident ended without any intent to escalate violence or dwell on the events.
Lebanese news agencies are claiming that the IDF force opened fire on a military base on the eastern side of the border. They say the exchanges of fire lasted a few minutes.
A Lebanese radio station reported the exchanges occurred around 7 am. It added that UNIFIL soldiers are on the scene.
The incident was the first of its kind on the relatively calm front since Regiment Commander Dov Harari was killed on August 3, 2010. After the incident the Lebanese army announced it would be more careful and attempt to refrain from causing additional incidents.
http://fwd4.me/07z3...Read more 4 oct 2011, 13:53 , Respect -
Maria 3 aug 2011
Lebanon files UN lawsuit against Israel
Lebanese soldiers take up positions in the southern Lebanese village of Wazzani, near Lebanon's border with Israel, August 1, 2011.
Lebanon has submitted a complaint to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) over Israel's violation of the Lebanese sovereignty.
The move came after an Israeli army convoy crossed the border and entered the Wazzani area in southern Lebanon on Monday, which led to clashes with the Lebanese army, a Press TV correspondent reported on Wednesday.
The Lebanese foreign ministry described the incident as a clear violation of Lebanon's sovereignty, UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and the international law.
It also said the incident represented a threat to civil and international peace.
Israel has also filed a complaint with the UN about what it claimed were cross-border shootings from the Lebanese side.
Beirut has repeatedly protested against the violations of Lebanon's airspace, territorial waters, and border by Israel.
According to the Lebanese military, Israel violates Lebanon's airspace on an almost daily basis, claiming the flights serve surveillance purposes.
The Lebanese government, the Hezbollah resistance movement, and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have repeatedly cited Israel's air surveillance flights over Lebanon as flagrant violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the country's sovereignty.
UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended Israel's war against Lebanon in 2006, calls on Israel to respect Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/192193.html 12 oct 2011, 11:18 , Respect -
Maria 9 aug 2011
Israeli planes violate Lebanese airspace
Four Israeli military aircraft have penetrated Lebanese airspace and have flown over parts of the country in blatant violation of a UN Security Council resolution.
Two Israeli warplanes crossed into the Lebanese airspace on Monday over the border village of Kfar Kila, located 96 kilometers (59 miles) south of the capital Beirut, at 10:20 a.m. (0720 GMT) and conducted several unwarranted flights over southern Lebanon, said a statement released by the Lebanese military.
The Israeli aircraft left the Lebanese airspace at around 12:00 p.m. (0900 GMT) while flying over the southern sector of the country.
Meanwhile, an Israeli reconnaissance plane impinged upon the Lebanese airspace at 7:55 a.m. local time (0455 GMT) on Sunday, and carried out covert surveillance fights over the village of al-Naqoura, located 91 kilometers (57 miles) south of Beirut.
The remote-controlled drone left Lebanese airspace at 11 a.m. local time (0800 GMT) while flying over the southern village of Rmeish.
Earlier in the day, an Israeli drone breached Lebanon's airspace over the border town of Alma al-Shaab and performed unwarranted sorties over southern parts of the country.
Israel violates Lebanon's airspace on an almost daily basis, claiming the flights serve surveillance purposes.
Lebanon's government, the Hezbollah resistance movement and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, have repeatedly condemned the overflights, saying they are in clear violation of UN Resolution 1701 and the country's sovereignty.
UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which brokered a ceasefire in the war Israel launched against Lebanon in 2006, calls on Tel Aviv to respect Beirut's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In 2009, Lebanon filed a complaint with the United Nations, presenting over 7,000 documents pertaining to Israeli violation of Lebanese territory.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/193037.html
Israel 'deploys drones' over offshore gas fields
JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Israel has deployed drones to keep watch on gas fields off its northern coast, fearing attack by the Hezbollah militia from neighboring Lebanon, the Jerusalem Post daily reported on Tuesday.
The fields lie in a part of the Mediterranean that is claimed by Israel for gas exploration and production, but Lebanon says the fields lie within its territorial waters.
"The decision to deploy drones was made in order to maintain a 24-hour presence over the site," the paper said, adding that the air force was equipped with the locally made Heron drone, which has special electro-optics designed for maritime work.
The Israeli military would not confirm or deny the Post report.
The paper said that the air force started aerial surveillance after a warning last month from Hezbollah, which in 2006 fought a deadly war with Israel in which it used anti-ship missiles.
The "Heron" drone is pictured at the Palmahim Airbase in central Israel
"The Israeli enemy cannot drill a single meter in these waters to search for gas and oil if the zone is disputed ... No company can carry out prospecting work in waters whose sovereignty is contested," the Shiite group said.
The Hezbollah threat came after Israel's cabinet approved a map of the country's proposed maritime borders with Lebanon and submitted it to the United Nations, which has been asked to mediate in the dispute.
The map conflicts with one submitted by Lebanon to the UN last year, which gives Israel less territory.
The two countries are technically at war and will not negotiate face to face.
The disputed zone consists of about 854 square kilometers.
The two biggest known offshore fields, Tamar and Leviathan, lie respectively about 80 kilometers and 130 kilometers off Israel's northern city of Haifa.
Tamar is believed to hold at least 238 billion cubic meters cubic feet of gas, while Leviathan is believed to have reserves of 450 billion cubic meters.
In June an Israeli company announced the discovery of two new natural gas fields, Sarah and Mira, around 70 kilometers off the city of Hadera further south.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=411946
12 aug 2011
Israeli drone violates Lebanese airspace
An Israeli aircraft has violated Lebanon's airspace, flying over southern areas of the country in flagrant defiance of a UN Security Council resolution.
On Friday, the Lebanese Army Command Orientation Directorate issued a statement saying an Israeli reconnaissance drone entered Lebanese airspace over the southern borders at 10:45 a.m. local time on Thursday.
The aircraft flew over various areas of south Lebanon before leaving at 3:00 p.m. on the same day.
Israel violates Lebanon's airspace on an almost daily basis, claiming that the overflights serve surveillance purposes.
Lebanon's government, the Hezbollah resistance movement, and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have repeatedly cited Israel's air surveillance flights over Lebanon as clear violations of UN Resolution 1701 and the country's sovereignty.
UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which brokered a ceasefire in the war of aggression Israel launched against Lebanon in 2006, calls on Tel Aviv to respect Beirut's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In 2009, Lebanon filed a complaint with the United Nations, presenting over 7,000 documents pertaining to Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace and territory.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/193672.html 13 oct 2011, 11:27 , Respect -
Maria 17 aug 2011
'US, Israel plan civil war in Lebanon'
Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah
Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah says the US and Israel are trying to cause a civil war in Lebanon by destroying people's coexistence.
In his speech on Wednesday, Nasrallah said Washington and Tel Aviv are laying the foundation for sectarian strife in a bid to ruin the social fabric in Lebanon.
The Hezbollah leader also rejected the US-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) probing the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, saying its indictments lack credibility.
The former Lebanese premier and over 20 other people were killed on February 14, 2005 in massive explosions in downtown Beirut.
The STL, which was authorized by a US-sponsored Security Council resolution in 2007, was set up to look into the deadly incident.
The tribunal issued indictments and arrest warrants in June 2011 for four men identified by Lebanese officials as Hezbollah members.
Nasrallah said on Wednesday that the tribunal has refused to consider other scenarios such as Israel's involvement in the murder.
He also accused media outlets and figures associated with the March 14th movement of jumping to conclusions, adding that they make accusations against Hezbollah without any basis.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/194411.html