“Israel’s” Ambitions in Lebanese Waters and the Balance of Power

Naziha Saleh In the 1950's, the well known Lebanese scientist, Ghassan Kanso, discovered that Lebanon is swimming on a sea of oil. During the 1960's, an American University of Beirut (AUB) graduate had said that a visiting Iranian geologist at the AUB revealed that there is a cavity that starts from the Mediterranean east shore to the eastern parts of Iran, and is full of oil and gas. Dr. Ghassan Kanso in many newspaper interviews said there had been drilling for oil in Lebanon in 1953 which proved without a shadow of a doubt that Lebanon is rich in oil, mineral resources, and natural gas. He pointed out that during the drilling; a well in "Yohmor" was discovered but was later buried for political reasons as most Lebanese believed. In 1960, A German Company dug wells on behalf of the Lebanese company for oil in the town of "Sohmor". This exploration was in search for natural gas at a depth of 180 meters underground on the same geological layer, parallel to the gas wells in Syria, Turkey and Iraq. The company also drilled wells in "Adloun" south Lebanon and stopped for a political reason. The Lebanese Army Magazine mentioned in its August 2010 issue the following: The Italian company drilled two wells in 1963, one in the area of ‘Tel Znoob' and the other one in ‘Sohmor'. German companies also conducted geophysical studies in ‘Hermel' in the middle of the last century and indicated the presence of oil and gas. Later in 1982, Bulgarian company re-explored oil near ‘Hermel-Qamua' and this was confirmed by reports from the Lebanese internal security forces, specifically that the Bulgarian team had found oil at a depth of 380 meters. One could suspect that political reasons are behind stopping those drilling too. Going back to the Scientist Ghassan Kanso, he stated that it is possible to find minerals in the following places: • Iron: Margie, Akkar, Qamua, Hrar Hawla, Dahr el-Baydar, Western Bekaa, Beit Din, Ain Aar, bsharry and balousy (hundreds of millions of tons of iron). • Gold: Laqlouq, Brital, and Hatchit. • Aluminum: Hesron, Hmlaya, Wady ljamajim, Tarshish and Jeita. • Phosphates: West Bekaa, Lypaya, Nahly and Sidon. • Coal: Beit Din, Hator, Zhalta, Arsoun, Zibdin, Qornayel, Jezzine, Mayrouba, bsharry • copper: Brital was sure rich in gold, silver, marble, clay and the expensive onyx As it is known from the history of countries rich in oil, oil plays a major role in international politics, and much of the policies in the region are affected by oil politics. That is why Lebanon should be prepared to face a lot of pressure and threats by Israel and the countries supporting it; as the USA and the European Union. The reason behind this is that the "international community" has not blessed any kind of self development of the Arab countries. After the Oil law was drafted by the Lebanese parliament on the 17th of August 2010, and after so many years, the current Lebanese government (Mikati cabinet) has decided to reopen the file and begin working on this matter. This move has put Lebanon on the oil map despite the expectations that Israel would put pressure on Lebanon to deprive it from its oil. This pressure is not only to stop the Lebanese from development, but also to revenge their defeat in the 2006 July war. In addition, Lebanese oil would imply Lebanese economic growth, which is something "Israel" would not favor. Lebanon announced the discovery of the Leviathan and Tamar oil sites in its territorial waters; a fortune estimated to be worth $40 billion. In this context, the "Israeli" minister of national infrastructure, Uzi Landau, threatened last June in an interview with the Bloomberg news agency, "Israel is willing to use force in order to protect the natural gas reserves discovered off the northern shores". "We will not hesitate to use our force and strength to protect the gas not only by the rule of law but by the international maritime law (although "Israel" is not a maritime law signatory), our very existence here is a matter of occupation for them. These areas are within the economic waters of "Israel"", he further claimed. Under all this pressure, the recent Lebanese government, and as a national priority, has proceeded in building up the data which was discussed with experts in the field. Energy and Water Minister Gibran Basil confirmed in the opening of the first international conference held in Lebanon in the beginning of June 2011, "Lebanon will rise and will be a country among the industrial countries." The conference included the participation of 85 companies from major local and international companies specialized in the oil sector. Basil stressed on the importance of the conference saying, "It gives the first indication of the seriousness of Lebanon and designs the final stages to allow it to be an exporter and extractor of oil and gas, and not just a consuming country as it used to be". This decision was made inspite of knowing that there is an international decision to avoid the development of the third world countries which are in a state of war with "Israel", and only "Israel" has the right in development in the Middle East. Despite the fact that there was an experience in the exploration for oil in Lebanon at the beginning of the last century and was banned because it is related to development, the current Lebanese government decided to face all these pressures, and work on achieving Lebanese rights in oil and natural resources. Some analysts have said that after the Ethiopian air crash in Beirut Airport, some French, British, Cypriot and American warships joined the efforts to search for the victims, and prevented the Lebanese army from searching because it was related to the exploration of oil. At that time, all the ships that came did not give any answer about the Ethiopian plane, but were here to search on behalf of "Israel" to make sure that the field under the Lebanese water is full of gas as well as the one in Palestine. In this case one may ask many questions about what and who was behind the crash? We are waiting to see what the plan of the Lebanese government will be in the next phase, and what will the next step be in the relation with Cyprus; whether it will or will not respond to the Lebanese government's request to correct the mistake of the demarcation and give Lebanon back the five kilometers. "Israel" will keep threatening Lebanon with international laws, which "Israel" does not abide by, in order to halt Lebanon's drillings and discovering of its resources under the sea. The "Israeli" aggressor will put so much pressure on the countries and companies which have accepted to drill in Lebanon. However, what we know for sure is that Lebanon will face another kind of resistance other than the military and Political resistance. Lebanon now has to prepare its "economic muscles" to resist "Israel". It has to believe in its right as the military resistance did to gain the battle against "Israel" so far, and has made a big change in the region's balance of power.

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