LEBANON Dispute with Beirut: free way for Israeli tests for gas extraction in Karish

Those responsible for the security services have given the green light to the Energean company to carry out the tests. The Israeli Defense Minister announced a “strong response” in the event of an attack by Hezbollah and did not rule out a “wider conflict”. The Lebanese Shia movement threatened retaliation in the event of a no-deal extraction.

Tel Aviv () – Israel has begun tests for the extraction of gas from the controversial Karish field, claimed by Lebanon in a long dispute over maritime borders in the Mediterranean. As reported yesterday by Channel 12, the security services of the Jewish State gave the green light to the international drilling company (based in London) Energean to begin tests. The decision could exacerbate tensions with Beirut and derail the diplomatic path to reach an agreement, as well as trigger Hezbollah’s military response in a new regional war.

In a note, the company said it was “pleased” to confirm an “important step in the commissioning process (performance verification activities) of Energean Power’s floating “production, storage and offloading” unit. After obtaining the With the approval of the Israeli Ministry of Energy, the company has started the procedures for tests on the flow of gas from the subsoil.

Public broadcaster Kan added that pumping operations from the site in a fully operational regime could be defined within a few weeks after the start of tests. In recent days, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz declared that his country will continue with the extraction of gas from the Karish field, regardless of the threats from Hezbollah and the possible military escalation. He announced a “strong response” in case of attacks “by air, sea or land.” And if the confrontation turns into a “wider conflict, we will tear Lebanon apart, and that would be really unfortunate.”

On October 6, Israel rejected the revision of the draft agreement with Beirut, drawn up by the US special envoy Amos Hochstein, which was to put an end to the conflict over the maritime borders between the two countries. On the other hand, a possible victory at the polls of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – who has already criticized the terms considering them invalid – in the elections on November 1 could make the already difficult mediation work definitively fail.

Lebanon and Israel dispute a maritime area of ​​860 square kilometers (332 square miles), according to maps sent by their respective governments to the United Nations in 2011. The area is rich in natural gas and oil. Since 2020, there have been five rounds of indirect negotiations on the issue under the auspices of the UN and with the mediation of the United States, the last of which took place in May 2021.