Israel, US to steal Lebanon gas
Israel, with the help of US energy companies, is trying to exploit one of the world’s largest gas fields, which mainly belongs to Lebanon.
Last month, US oil and gas producer Noble Energy announced that it has discovered two enormous natural gas fields, containing as much as 25 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, off the Mediterranean coastline.
The largest part of the discovery is the Leviathan gas field, which is believed to contain 16 trillion cubic 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.
Earlier this month, Lebanese Foreign Minister Ali Shami sent a letter to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, stressing Lebanon’s right to its energy wealth which lies within its exclusive economic zone.
Shami condemned Israeli exploitation of Lebanon’s potential wealth as a blatant violation of international laws and an assault against Lebanese sovereignty.
Lebanon’s parliament in August last year approved a law to carry out offshore oil and gas exploration projects in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time.
However, since Israel is ahead in the race to develop these energy resources, politicians, especially Lebanon’s head of Parliament Nabih Berri, have called for a quick adoption of the law.
