JERUSALEM — Minister of National Infrastructures Uzi Landau says Israel will use force to protect offshore natural gas finds after the speaker of Lebanon's parliament said the fields extended into his nation's waters. "We will not hesitate to use our force and strength to protect not only the rule of law but the international maritime law," Landau said here last week when asked about the Lebanese claims. "Whatever we find, they will have something to say," he predicted. "That's because they're not challenging our findings and so-called occupation of the sea. … These areas are within the economic waters of Israel." Israel, which is seeking to wean itself off oil and coal imports from as far away as Mexico and Norway, has said the Leviathan and Tamar fields may allow it to start exporting gas. The finds also have prompted talks with Cyprus to clarify maritime boundaries. Israel and Lebanon are technically at war and have no diplomatic relations. Nabih Berri, the speaker of Lebanon's Parliament, said that Israel is "ignoring the fact that according to the maps the deposit extends into Lebanese waters," Agence France-Presse reported on June 9. Houston-based Noble Energy and Israeli companies controlled by billionaire Isaac Tshuva, say the natural gas finds in the past 18 months may hold 24 trillion cubic feet of gas, more than twice Britain's reserves. Leviathan lies about 81 miles off Israel and Tamar is 56 miles off, according to Landau's ministry. Delek Drilling-LP, one of Noble's partners, said the licenses are in waters where Israel has authority. Lebanese Energy Minister Gebran Bassil insisted that his country "will not allow Israel or any company working for Israeli interests to take any amount of our gas that is falling in our zone." He said Noble was warned not to work close to Lebanon's economic zone. Bassil also said Lebanon's government and lawmakers "should move quickly on starting the exploration of offshore gas." A coastal state is entitled to explore for oil and gas in its economic zone, which extends 200 nautical miles, according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. A halfway point is used when the distance between countries is less than 400 nautical miles. Haifa, in northern Israel, is about 148 nautical miles from Cyprus, which is located north of Leviathan. Lebanon's claim may be complex because its border with Israel is indented, making it harder to establish where Israel's sea boundary ends and Lebanese waters begin, said Robbie Sable, a professor of international law at Jerusalem's Hebrew University. Israel is working on an agreement with Cyprus over the two countries' maritime borders, Landau said. There is no dispute with Cyprus over Israel's rights to the Leviathan gas exploration site and the Tamar field, said Landau, who last year left the ruling Likud party to join the Yisrael Beitenu party led by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. The group is the second-biggest party in the ruling coalition. Landau said that Israel and Cyprus are "in close touch" about the gas fields.ISRAEL FINDS OIL OFF HAIFA COAST
Lebanon Makes False Claim To Oil
Bloomberg - News June 26, 2010, 12:58AM (Houston Chronicle)
Houston firm involved
Negotiating with Cyprus
(0)6/27/2010 4:59:30 AM
Sunday, 27 June 2010
mudengineer1950 wrote:
I was personally on the 2 Tamar discovery wells offshore Haifa, Israel last year . Israeli security is terrific , & I have no doubt that they will defend these gas fields . These discoveries should make Israel energy independent once they are developed. They are in deep water [5,000 ft] . After spending 6 months in Israel , I am definitely very pro-Israel. Fascinating country with 3,000 years of history . Galilee area is unique and gorgeous . Masada plateau is a "must see" if you visit Israel.
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