The latest developments concerning the issue of the Lebanese maritime border delimitation have stirred a wave of criticism inside the Zionist entity.
In this regard, ‘Israeli’ Brigadier General [res.] Amir Avivi, the founder and CEO of the ‘Israeli’ ‘Defense’ and Security Forum, commented by saying “What happened has brought ‘Israel’ to its knees.”
Avivi said in an interview with ‘Israeli’ Army Radio that “What happened is dangerous and unprecedented in which Hezbollah threatens us, and we, in turn, concede very rapidly in front of Lebanon’s stance ahead of the elections,” adding that “Hezbollah brought ‘Israel’ to its knees… this temporary calm means nothing to the long-time strategy.”
Avivi also noted that ‘Israel’ responded to all of the demands, and we are having a ‘historic deal’ on the maritime borders, according to him.
Eyes are on Beirut’s Dahiyeh on Tuesday as friends and enemies await Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah’s speech. The televised address coincides with an accelerated political activity a day after Lebanon received the updated proposal by US Energy Envoy Amos Hocshtein on an impending deal on the maritime dispute with the Zionist entity.
Sayyed Nasrallah is to deliver a speech via Al-Manar during a ceremony held Tuesday at 20:00 (Beirut time) on the occasion of Prophet Mohammad’s (pbuh) birth anniversary.
The Hezbollah leader is likely to address latest developments, with local and Israeli media expecting that his eminence will tackle the maritime deal.
In his latest speech on October 1, Sayyed Nasrallah reiterated Hezbollah’s stance which fully stands behind the Lebanese State in any decision it takes regarding the maritime deal.
Meanwhile, reports circulated on Tuesday indicated that a white smoke has blanked out the scene, with several media outlets reporting an acceptance of the updated proposal by the Lebanese and Israeli sides.
Bou Saab Hands President Aoun Hochstein Proposal
In Beirut, Lebanese Presidency Press Office announced that Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab handed over President Michel Aoun the proposal finalized by Hochstein, describing the proposal as ‘satisfying’.
“The Lebanese Presidency considers the final version of the proposal on maritime deal satisfying as it meets demands that were debated during the last months,” a statement by the press office of the Lebanese Presidency announced.
Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab hands over Hochstein’s updated proposal to President Michel Aoun.
For his part, Bou Saab, Lebanon’s lead negotiator in the issue of maritime deal, said: “For Lebanon, the maritime deal has been finalized,” noting that the US mediator is waiting for the official response by Lebanon.
“Any company that will carry out the offshore gas and oil drilling must not be subject to international sanctions,” Bou Saab said at Baabda Presidential Palace.
The Lebanese deputy speaker used the term “international sanctions” instead of “US sanctions,” which Lebanon asked to be modified after being adopted in Hochstein’s previous proposal.
Bou Saab also visited Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain Al-Tineh to submit the finalized proposal. He stressed, in remarks carried by Al-Manar, that Lebanon will have a united stance towards Hochstein’s updated proposal, noting that “no modifications have been made so far on the updated proposal.”
Bou Saab then handed over the proposal to caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who, earlier on Tuesday met with a delegation of TotalEnergies Company, in the presence of Caretaker Energy Minister Walid Fayyad.
Lapid Says Deal ‘Historic Achievement’
Elsewhere in the Zionist entity, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said “historic agreement” has been reached on the maritime dispute with Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid (photo from archive).
“This is a historic achievement that will strengthen Israeli security, will bring billions to Israel’s economy and ensure stability on the northern border,” Lapid tweeted, according to Israeli media.
Lapid called a Security Cabinet meeting, followed by a general cabinet meeting for Wednesday to approve the deal, The Jerusalem Post reported, adding that the deal is expected to be submitted to the Knesset for review.
For his part, Israeli national security adviser Eyal Hulata said all of the Israeli government’s demands in the maritime border negotiations with Lebanese officials were met.
“The changes we asked for in the text were made. All of Israel’s security interests were safeguarded. We are on a path towards a historic agreement,” he added.
‘Israel’ is in a very chaotic situation as never before. For the first time in its entire history the Zionist entity is experiencing in an unprecedented way a phase of deep division, confusion, and uncertainty. Both the political and military leaderships have been put in a very difficult situation and were left with no margin to maneuver.
All of this is taking place because of Hezbollah and its triumphing equation vis-à-vis the delimitation of the maritime line with the occupied Palestine.
The party has presented a serious warning that was perfectly understood by the ‘Israeli’ leadership, both military and political, and their American allies that if Lebanon was not allowed to extract and exploit its natural resources [petroleum and gas from its water], then the ‘Israelis’ will not be allowed to do that as well.
The resistance group sent three types of drones in a clear and direct message about its seriousness, willingness, and readiness to implement its warnings.
Moreover, Hezbollah has also carried out certain military maneuvers that showed part of its preparations to target the Karish platform.
Lebanon has sent its remarks about the US-proposed settlement. The ‘Israelis’ made a huge fuss about the Lebanese position because they could not swallow that Lebanon, and for the first time in its history, proved capable of forcing the ‘Israelis’ to accept its terms and conditions.
The reality is that this new development has caused a deep shock inside the ‘Israeli’ circles and was used by the opposition to exploit the situation for their coming elections.
Netanyahu and his party harshly attacked the proposed settlement describing it as a complete surrender to Hezbollah conditions, and started a campaign against their political adversaries.
The Zionist entity’s security and military leadership interfered to defend the decision to conclude a process with Lebanon though indirectly, because there is no other alternative but to go into a confrontation that will not be in their interest, and will possibly lead to devastating results and bring dangerous consequences that ‘Israel’ cannot take.
The Americans and French have also interfered to prevent any further deterioration in the ongoing negotiations.
This all should give a very important lesson to the Lebanese people and to all the oppressed people that when they take a firm decision and unite behind a united position, they can impose their own conditions which preserve and ensure their rights, and no force can dictate its terms against them.
The Lebanese people have been able to present themselves as united after the official position voiced by the three presidents that was furthered and supported by the resistance leadership.
Lebanon has been able to keep its firm position and deemed itself unconcerned with what is happening within the ‘Israeli’ milieu. This has added up more strength to the Lebanese position.
Most of the estimations anticipate that the new problems created by the Tel Aviv regime will be resolved and a settlement will be concluded irrespective of all the chaotic divisions inside the ‘Israeli’ establishment.
Hopefully Lebanon will be able to exercise its sovereign right of extracting and benefitting from its resources. This will ease the crisis and form a beginning to rid Lebanon and the Lebanese of many of the dilemmas and sufferings they are going through now. Again and again thanks to the resistance!
Lebanon has requested some amendments on the written proposal prepared by US Energy Envoy Amos Hochstein on the maritime dispute with the Zionist entity.
Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab, who is tasked by President Michel Aoun to oversee the US-mediated talks, handed over the Lebanese notes on Hochstein’s proposal to the US Embassy in Beirut on Tuesday.
The US embassy, delivered the notes to Hochstein, who in his turn sent a copy to the Zionist entity in order to discuss them during a high-level security cabinet on Thursday.
Al-Akhbar Lebanese daily revealed on Thursday the text of amendments requested by Lebanon. Al-Manar provides an English version of the Lebanese notes that can be divided into seven points.
First: Lebanon requested crossing off the “Blue Line” term in any place in Hochstein’s proposal that refers to its (southern) borders. There has been assertion that Lebanon sticks to its international borders.
Second: Lebanon stresses that the so-called “Floats Line” is meaningless since it doesn’t exist. Lebanon considers the current situation in this area as de-facto (factual) situation that is not legally recognized.
Third: Lebanon replaced the term “South Sidon Prospect” with “Sidon-Qana Field” with an addition which says that the field “will be developed by Lebanon and for the interest of Lebanon.”
Fourth: Concerning the firms which will start drilling in the Lebanese blocks, Hochstein’s proposal stipulated that they will not be subject to US sanctions. However, Lebanon rejected this sentence and replaced it with: “The firms will not be subject to international sanctions.”
Fifth, Hochstein’s draft says that “Israel doesn’t intend to oppose” any measures taken in Qana Field in the area beyond the Line 23. Lebanon requested amending this sentence to be: “Israel doesn’t oppose and will not oppose.” Lebanon also changed, in another paragraph, the same word – “doesn’t intend to oppose” – regarding the request for authorization to work in the field. In this context, Lebanon stressed that the deal with the French TotalEnergies company will be related by no means to the firm’s deal with the Zionist entity.
Sixth, Lebanon raised an objection to the word “financial compensation” between the operating company and the Zionist entity, and stressed that what will take place rather, constitutes a “financial settlement” that Lebanon has nothing to do with.
“Lebanon is not concerned with this settlement and in case the deal between the firm and the enemy entity is delayed, it will not affect the drilling activity in Block 9, which will begin immediately regardless of this settlement.”
Seventh, Hochstein’s draft stated that the US will contribute to facilitation of the operating firm’s work after the agreement. Lebanon requested that the sentence be changed to: “The US is committed to facilitate the work of the companies directly after the finalization of the deal.”
Below an infographic image prepared by Al-Manar team on the Lebanese modifications
Source: Al-Akhbar Newspaper (translated and edited by Al-Manar Website)
أمس، استفاق الجميع على صراخ مرتفع في إسرائيل. قرر يائير لابيد رفض التعديلات اللبنانية على مسوّدة الاتفاق البحري. وعشنا ساعات طويلة من التهديد والوعيد، قبل أن ينتهي المجلس الوزاري المصغر مساء إلى موقف ملتبس لا يحمل رفضاً للاتفاق، بل يحصر مشكلته مع بعض التعديلات التي طلبها لبنان. وتصرّف الجدّيون، من كل الأطراف المعنية بالملف، على أساس أن ما يجري في إسرائيل لا يتجاوز العمل تحت الضغط الانتخابي، وأن «لابيد يحاول أن يعمل أبو علي على حسن نصرالله» على حد تعبير الأكاديمي الإسرائيلي يوني بن مناحيم.
لكن، لنفترض أن إسرائيل تريد، من خلال رفض التعديلات اللبنانية، خوض مغامرة تهدّد بنسف الاتفاق، أو أنها تريد كسب مزيد من الوقت والمماطلة والتسويف سعياً إلى ظرف أفضل لها على صعيد طبيعة الاتفاق، فما الذي يعنيه ذلك؟ بعد جولات التفاوض الأخيرة، تعرّف العدو إلى تفاصيل لم يعتدها سابقاً من السياسيين اللبنانيين. وأدرك العدو، أيضاً، أن موقف المقاومة شكّل عامل كبح لأي تنازل إضافي يمكن أن يقدم عليه أحد في لبنان. لكن المقاومة لم تكن لتقف عند هذا الحد، خصوصاً عندما أعلمت العدو، بالخطاب وفي الميدان، أنها جاهزة لما هو أبعد بكثير من ضربة تذكيرية على غرار ما حصل يوم أرسلت المسيّرات فوق حقل «كاريش». يقول لنا العدو، اليوم، إنه مستعد لنسف الاتفاق، وإنه في هذه الحالة يهدّد لبنان بحرمانه من الغاز والنفط وبتهديد أمنه وما تبقى لديه في حال حصول مواجهة عسكرية. وما يهم العدو اليوم ليس موقف الحكومة اللبنانية فقط، بل ضمان تكبيل المقاومة من جهة، ومنع لبنان من البحث في أي واقع على الحدود البحرية أو البرية لاحقاً. وفي هذه الحالة، يُستحسن بالعدو أن يقرأ الموقف اللبناني بطريقة أخرى. ولمساعدته على ذلك، على العدو أن يعلم جيداً أن تعنّته سيقود إلى واقع مختلف تماماً: – إن نسف الاتفاق يعني نسف المسار التفاوضي الذي عرفناه خلال الأشهر الماضية، والعودة إلى النقطة الصفر تعني العودة إلى سقف لبناني مختلف عما جرى التداول به. وهناك بحث جدي وجوهري بأنه في حال إصرار العدو على رفض الاتفاق، فإن السقف الجديد سيكون انطلاقاً من الخط 30+، وليس الوقوف عند الخط 23. – إن نسف الاتفاق بحجة أن لبنان يرفض ترسيم الحدود البحرية والدولية الآن لا يُقلق المقاومة التي لا تعترف أساساً لا بالحدود القائمة الآن كأمر واقع ولا بالحدود كما رسمها الاستعمار. بالتالي فإن العدو سيكون معنياً بالجواب على سؤال يسبق كل هذا الكلام: هل يريد استخراج الغاز أم لا؟
تأخير الاتفاق إلى ما بعد عهد عون يجعل المقاومة الواثقة بالرئيس تستعيد الهامش الذي أعطته إياه
يعتقد العدو بأن تأخير العمل في حقل «كاريش»، مع مناورة تأخير الاتفاق، سيمنع المقاومة من التحرك، مفترضاً أن المسالة مرتبطة بـ«كاريش» فقط، ومتجاهلاً أن السبب الرئيسي لتحرك المقاومة هو القرار بفكّ الحصار الغربي عن لبنان وتحصيل الحقوق البحرية التي تساعد على مواجهة الأزمة. وسيكون مفيداً للعدو أن يطرح على نفسه سؤالاً عما إذا كانت المقاومة (في لبنان وفي فلسطين أيضاً) ستتركه يعمل بحرّية في بقية الحقول، وفق معادلة «ما بعد كاريش». إذا كان في إسرائيل، أو في الولايات المتحدة، من يراهن على أن تأخير الاتفاق إلى ما بعد الانتخابات، سيسهّل الأمر في ظل تغييرات يتوقع الغرب حصولها لبنانياً على صعيد الرئاسة والحكومة، فإن هؤلاء لا يفهمون أهمية ثقة المقاومة بالرئيس ميشال عون على وجه الخصوص، وأنه في حال الشغور الرئاسي، أو في ظل الانقسام السياسي الجديد، فإن المقاومة ستستعيد هامشها الأكبر الذي قلّصته بنفسها لثقتها بالرئيس عون. بالتالي، فإن الرهان على تغييرات تقود لبنان إلى تنازلات في مرحلة لاحقة ينمّ عن عدم فهم جدي لاستراتيجية المقاومة وآلية تفكيرها. أما الكلام المرتفع السقف الذي ضجّت به وسائل إعلام العدو أمس عن استنفار عسكري وعن تهديدات بتدمير لبنان وعن استعدادات للقيام بعملية عسكرية ضد المقاومة، فيدعو إلى السؤال عما إذا كان في إسرائيل من يصدّق أن هذا الأمر ممكن. وإذا ما غامر أحدهم، فعليه أن يستعدّ جيداً، لأن في قيادة المقاومة من لديه القدرة والإرادة على اتخاذ قرارات لا تترك معنى لأي اتفاق لترسيم الحدود البرية أو البحرية على حد سواء. أما الاعتقاد بأن التهديدات ستردع المقاومة، فالرد عليها يأتي من كلام رئيس الموساد الإسرائيلي ديدي بارنياع الذي قال أمس: «لقد تعهد نصرالله علناً بمنع إنتاج الغاز من كاريش إذا لم يكن هناك اتفاق… وهناك خوف من أنه سيضطر لإظهار أنه يفي بكلمته».
While the demarcation agreement is yet to be signed, scepticism on both sides signals conflict ahead
There is a sense of optimism in Lebanon over the possibility of signing a maritime agreement with Israel that would enable the extraction of gas from Lebanese territorial waters, which could help lead the country out of its dire financial crisis.
After the 3 October meeting that brought together Lebanese President Michel Aoun, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Republican Palace, it was clear that everyone agreed with the “moderate” proposals presented by US envoy Amos Hochstein, head of the indirect negotiations between Lebanon and Israel over their common maritime border.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Elias Abu Saab announced after the meeting that Lebanon’s “comments” on the proposals would be sent to Hochstein, and that the Lebanese government would not provide an official answer to the proposal – pending a response from the US envoy before the end of the week.
Israel for its part has reportedly given preliminary approval for the proposal which consists of a 10-page draft.
Abu Saab confirmed that Lebanon had obtained its full rights in the maritime “Qana gas field,” but he cautioned that the devils lie in the detail.
Mikati, who seems the most enthusiastic to sign the US-brokered agreement, said after leaving the presidential palace that “things are going in the right direction.” His smile was wider than ever – as though gas revenues in the billions of dollars were about to flow into the coffers of the Central Bank of Lebanon.
Gas deal ‘leaks’
So far, few details of the agreement have been revealed. Currently in circulation are ‘deliberate’ indirect leaks from the two negotiating parties to ‘beautify’ the agreement for their respective constituents. It reflects the desire of deal proponents to clinch an agreement as soon as possible, ostensibly to avoid a war on the Lebanese-Israeli border that could escalate into a regional war, and maybe more.
While the Lebanese side appears uncharacteristically united and more willing to sign, sharp divisions persist in the Israeli camp, especially between interim Prime Minister Yair Lapid and his ally Minister of Defense Benny Gantz, on the one hand, and the opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, on the other.
Lapid claims, through his camp’s leaks, that Israel will retain full sovereignty over the contested Karish gas field and will receive financial compensation by relinquishing part of Lebanon’s Qana gas field – paid for by French corporation TotalEnergies, which is currently in talks of its own with Israel over potential profit sharing from exploration.
Lapid also promotes the notion that Israel made a “tactical concession in exchange for a strategic gain in stability on the northern borders.”
Netanyahu has stepped up his attacks on the prime minister and has criticized the draft agreement for making huge concessions on the ‘Land of Israel’ and for handing over its natural resources to Lebanon and Hezbollah.
This, he contends, is taking place without holding a public referendum or securing the approval of the Knesset (Parliament). He has also vowed to abolish the agreement if he comes to power following legislative elections scheduled for 1 November.
Meanwhile, everyone is awaiting the results of the mini-Israeli security cabinet meeting next Thursday, which is supposed to discuss and ratify the agreement.
The internal battle may then move to Israel’s Supreme Court to decide on the opposition’s demands to hold a referendum on the agreement, or to submit it to the Knesset for approval – or both. There are initial indications that the Supreme Court may support the opposition’s opinion.
Uri Adiri, the chief Israeli negotiator for demarcating the maritime border with Lebanon, announced his resignation in protest of Lapid’s management of the negotiations. It seems clear that the resignation came under opposition pressure, and it is not unlikely that similar resignations will take place in the coming days.
Negotiations leading to ‘normalization’
There are also criticisms on the Lebanese side in some circles, chiefly over the notion that such negotiations are a precursor to normalization with the occupation state. Abu Saab, however, has insisted that no agreement or treaty will be signed with the Israeli enemy, and that there will be no document that includes a Lebanese signature alongside an Israeli signature.
But there are several caveats worth noting:
Firstly: The final version of the US-brokered proposals has not yet been agreed upon, and therefore the possibilities of returning to square one, that is, before the ‘theoretical current agreement,’ are still present.
Secondly: The only guarantors of this agreement are the United States and France. Experiences with US guarantees are not encouraging. As we have seen with Washington’s unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – likewise, the US guarantee of the Oslo Accord, signed at the White House on 13 September, 1993 – an American guarantee no longer invokes much confidence.
Thirdly: Netanyahu cannot cancel the agreement as long as it is legally approved, but he can undermine it if he wins the next legislative elections. As with the Oslo Accords – which he strongly opposed – while he could not exit the agreement, he prevented its implementation and reduced it to empty words by settling 800,000 settlers in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.
Delaying the inevitable
Finally: We cannot rule out that these Israeli disputes between the government and the opposition are just political theater intended to stall, deceive the Lebanese, and plan ahead for the inevitable response by the Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah.
It should be noted that the US is Israel’s strongest global ally, that Lapid is one of Israel’s most ardent supporters of the US war against Russia in Ukraine, and that the American “mediator” Amos Hochstein is Israeli-born and served in the Israeli army.
The only reliable guarantee for Lebanon, for its oil and gas resources, for its security and stability, is the Islamic resistance represented by Hezbollah and its huge arsenal of precision missiles, advanced drones, and one hundred thousand-strong army of resistance fighters.
This is the first time in the history of Israel, since its establishment, that its government has offered concessions under the threat of arms and in fear of a war that threatens its existence. This is entirely due to Hezbollah’s refusal to allow Israel to extract gas before Lebanon has secured its own rights.
The next few days could be the most dangerous for Lebanon and the region. The utmost caution must be exercised, and every word or comma in any binding agreement must be carefully scrutinized before signing.
Remember that Netanyahu is a paper tiger, and he was subjected to humiliating defeats at the hands of the resistance in the Gaza Strip, especially in the battle of Sayf al-Quds.
The resistance is the biggest winner of this agreement so far in both in its implementation – because it is the one who imposed it with missiles and drones – and in the event of its collapse – because it is ready for all possibilities, foremost of which is war.
While the Lebanese people are peaceful, and have sought hard to secure a fair and equitable agreement over their maritime borders, they may yet be forced to militarily secure their national rights to Lebanon’s natural resources.
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As the dispute on the maritime border between Lebanon and the occupied Palestine edges its final phase, the American friends of ‘Israel’ started lamenting that the final proposal is in favor of Lebanon in general, Hezbollah resistance movement in particular, and claiming that it is depriving the occupying entity from all of the naval resources.
Those comments also echo former ‘Israeli’ premier and opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who started attacking his rival, Zionist PM Yair Lapid, whom he accused of giving away the ‘Israeli’-occupied Palestinian maritime territory to Hezbollah.
In the same respect, former US ambassador to the ‘Israeli’-occupied territories, David Friedman, commented on the final process in a tweet, in which he mourned that:
“We spent years trying to broker a deal between ‘Israel’ and Lebanon on the disputed maritime gas fields. Got very close with proposed splits of 55-60% for Lebanon and 45-40% for ‘Israel.’ No one then imagined 100% to Lebanon and 0% to ‘Israel.’ Would love to understand how we got here.”
For his part, Former US assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker told i24NEWS that the chances of an ‘Israeli’-Hezbollah confrontation “still remain very high” despite the advancement of the US-brokered maritime border delimitation issue.
Schenker belittled the proposal, saying it “does nothing to lower or alleviate tensions along the blue line where Hezbollah is digging in.”
The New Jersey native served in the position during the administration of former US president Donald Trump from 2019 to 2021, during which he was assigned as the point man on the ‘Israeli’ occupied Palestine-Lebanon maritime border negotiations.
Seemingly admitting his failure to finish the issue, whose draft proposal was formed under the mediation of the State Department’s senior advisor for energy security, Amos Hochstein, Schenker also said that it appeared that ‘Israel’ agreed to give the Lebanese “100 percent” of what they wanted, while claiming that the Qana gas field that would be under control of Lebanon contains “very little reserves.”
He said that the administration of US President Joe Biden can claim a foreign policy win with the deal and a success in promoting regional stability, while cautioning that questions still remain about long-term calm.
Israeli media are highlighting a split in positions in “Israel” regarding the maritime agreement.
Israeli media: Lebanon is united regarding the maritime demarcation agreement
By Al Mayadeen English
On Monday, Israeli media reported that “Lebanon is united over the maritime agreement, and “Israel” is divided.”
In the details, the Israeli channel KAN said that “a country suffering from conflict and is politically divided, such as Lebanon, appears more united than Israel with regard to everything related to the issue of the dispute on the maritime borders.”
The Israeli channel commented on the speech of the caretaker Prime Minister in Lebanon, Najib Mikati, in which he said that “the agreement is acceptable to us, but we will convey some observations to the American mediator,” noting that “there is a basic consensus that the settlement proposal on the part of the American mediator, Amos Hochstein, is accepted by the Lebanese side.”
The interviewer on KAN then asked, “Why is this important? Because “Israel” appears contrary to what it should be?”
The response was that “it is true that a senior (Israeli) political source said yesterday that Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Security Minister Benny Gantz agreed to Hochstein’s proposal, but there are a number of question marks, not only about the crystallized agreement and how it will be ratified but also within the government and inside the cabinet.”
Netanyahu: “Agreement is illegal, we won’t be obligated by it”
Earlier, former Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters that Lapid is shamefully surrendering to the threats of the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
According to Netanyahu, should the agreement with Lebanon be signed, Hezbollah would be “receiving Israel’s sovereign territory and a gas field worth billions of dollars” without any parliamentary debate and referendum.
“Lapid has no mandate to give sovereign territory and sovereign assets that belong to all of us to an enemy state,” Netanyahu said.
The former Israeli PM reiterated that the agreement with Lebanon “is illegal and we won’t be obligated by it,” in the event of returning to power after the November 1 election.
In response, Lapid tweeted that “I understand that it pains you that you didn’t succeed in achieving an agreement, but that is no reason to join Nasrallah’s propaganda campaign.”
Lapid said that Netanyahu “hasn’t seen the agreement,” claiming that it gives “Israel” “100% of its security needs, 100% of the Karish reserve, and even some of the profits from the Lebanon reserve.”
Two days ago, a Lebanese source concerned with the demarcation negotiations confirmed to Al Mayadeen that “Lebanon obtained, in the written proposal it received from the Americans, all its demands,” adding that “Lebanon has not and will not give Israel any security zone that it previously demanded.”
This comes after Lebanon received the written response from the American mediator, Amos Hochstein, regarding the demarcation of its southern maritime borders, through the American ambassador to Lebanon, Dorothy Shea.
On his part, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah also touched on the issue of the Lebanese maritime borders, saying that the importance of what is happening today is there is a written text from the mediating party that the President, Parliament Speaker, and the Prime Minister have received.
In turn, Israeli media said that the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, “succeeded in the battle of awareness in the negotiations to demarcate the maritime borders.”
Hezbollah Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah delivered on Saturday a speech commemorating the memory of Sayyed Mohammad Ali Al-Amin.
As he praised the noble traits of the late cleric, Sayyed Nasrallah recalled that “The true history of our countries and nations is known through our clerics.”
His Eminence further urged collective efforts to preserve our history as “Much of what has been written is an imagined and assumed history.”
“His Eminence lived the incidents including the establishment of the usurping entity, the displacement of Palestinian people, the 1967 war and the successive ‘Israeli’ aggressions on Lebanon, the latest of which was the 206 aggression,” Sayyed Nasrallah stated.
On the same level, the Resistance Leader called for preserving the blessing of the Resistance. “We must not be affected with the voices that don’t suggest any other alternative,” he added, noting that “The current sense of security and dignity in the south was a victory created in Lebanon and by its people.
Denouncing the fact that “There are no values, ethics or international law in this world, which is governed by the law of the jungle,” His Eminence reminded that “The calmness the people enjoy today, especially the southerners, has been made in Lebanon at the hands of the men of Resistance; this Resistance has presented tangible victories and achievements.”
Moving to the Palestinian front, Sayyed Nasrallah viewed that “The Palestinians have no choice other than resistance as they have turned desperate from negotiations while the Resistance in the West Bank, Gaza, and all regions is rising.”
On the maritime demarcation negotiations with “Israel”, he considered that the written proposal that was presented to the Lebanese presidencies forms a “a very important step.”
“Following months of political, field, and media resistance, today the Lebanese heads of state received the written proposal on the issue of the maritime border demarcation,” His Eminence clarified, pointing out that “The importance of what happened today is that there is a written text and not just mere words.”
Moreover, Sayyed Nasrallah emphasized that “We’ll be facing a decisive week on the level of the maritime border demarcation between Lebanon and the occupied Palestine as the Lebanese authorities prepare their response to an offer that could “open up wide horizons for the Lebanese people.”
“We can extract our resources when we benefit from our strength and unity. We hope that things finally turn good in favor of Lebanon and all the Lebanese people; which in case achieved will open wide horizons to the people of Lebanon. When we stand together and use our available elements of strength we can reach good results,” he added.
He further mentioned that if a deal was reached, it wouldn’t be a result of the US and “Israeli” “generosity” but rather the result of “Lebanon’s strength”.
Regarding the internal Lebanese front, Hezbollah Secretary General viewed that “Holding the session to vote on electing a President of the Republic was an important issue and the turnout confirms what we have been saying that no political alliance in Lebanon possesses the majority.”
“Thursday’s parliamentary session stressed that those who want to elect a president for Lebanon must shun the approach of confrontation and the presidents and candidates of confrontation,” he elaborated.
In parallel, Sayyed Nasrallah wondered “How would a country be run by a president who wants to challenge a major part of the Lebanese people given the deep crisis in the country and the global developments?”
He, thus, urged the political forces to “consult among each other and activate their contacts in the coming period in order to reach a choice the enjoys a majority in parliament.”
“We are short on time regarding the formation of the Lebanese government,” The resistance Leader warned, adding that “The illegal emigration on the boats of death is almost a crime, and we call on serious and judicial investigation on this level.”
On another level, Sayyed Nasrallah cautioned that “The state of ‘Daesh’ [Arabic Acronym for the terrorist ‘ISIS’ group] has collapsed, but ‘Daesh’ as a scheme, organization, and tool still exist.”
“The extent of the US breach of Daesh is huge and a big part of this organization has been transferred to Afghanistan where we are witnessing what is taking place there,” he elaborated.
Moving to the Iranian scene, Sayyed Nasrallah stated that “The United States exploits any incident in Iran in order to provoke the nation against the Islamic establishment, the latest of which is the protests that have broken out following Ms. Amini’s tragic death.”
He also lamented the fact that “The world was moved because an Iranian lady who died in unclear circumstances but turned a blind eye to 50 martyrs in Afghanistan.”
“US-backed vandals took advantage of the unclear circumstances surrounding her death to challenge the Islamic Republic after their so-called campaign of maximum pressure dismally failed,” he said, recalling that “‘Daesh’ was made by the US, and the US intelligence apparatuses are still protecting, facilitating its funding, and transferring more members to it.”
His Eminence went on to warn that “The aim behind imposing sanctions on Iran is to incite the people against the Islamic regime, as it is in Lebanon to incite the people against the Resistance.”
According to Sayyed Nasrallah, “The US’ cruel sanctions against Iranians were meant to pit the people against the Islamic state. The successive US administrations have realized that Iran is a strong, dignified and capable country; and that explains why it doesn’t dare to wage a war on the country and restores to agitating internal disputes.”
“Iran enjoys great capabilities, so the US uses all tools to incite provocations against the Islamic Republic. Western and Gulf media outlets are working to incite the Iranian people against the Islamic state, he said, noting that “The US administrations have established troll armies across social media platforms to undermine Iran, but all to no avail.”
“The global media viewed those who took to the streets in the recent events as the Iranian people, but when millions took to the streets in support of the Islamic regime they turned silent, he stressed.
However, His Eminence assured that “All the schemes are unable to harm the Islamic Republic of Iran because of the nation’s readiness to make sacrifices. It is enough for those fools to watch the Iranian people’s commemorations of the different occasions, and the historic funeral of martyr Hajj Qassem Soleimani to see the will of the Iranian people. The blessed Islamic Republic of Iran is stronger and braver than ever. The Islamic Republic, with its Leader and people, could not be defeated
“Iran does not have any colonial intentions in the Middle East region. The Islamic Republic cannot be defeated, and holding bitter enmity towards it will cause huge losses for the entire Muslim world,” Sayyed Nasrallah added.
He also criticized some Iraqi groups for forgetting about the tremendous and heroic sacrifices made by General Qassem Soleimani: “How would the Iraqis befriend Saudi Arabia that sent 5000 suicide bombers to their country? How would the Iraqis forget Iran’s support with arms and money to defend Iraq against ‘Daesh’? Hadn’t been for Iran after the ‘Camp David Agreement’, where would Palestine and al-Quds have been? And where would have Lebanon and ‘Israel’ been?”
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Former Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says Yair Lapid panicked and retreated following Sayyed Nasrallah’s threats, thus yielding to Lebanese demands.
Former Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his political rival, Israeli PM Yair Lapid
Former Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed Tuesday his political rival, Israeli PM Yair Lapid, saying that the latter retreated following Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s threats.
In a video message posted on his Twitter account, Netanyahu said Sayyed Nasrallah threatened Lapid that Hezbollah will attack “Israel” in the event of operating the Karish field before signing an indirect gas agreement with Lebanon.
The former Israeli Prime Minister considered that Lapid panicked and failed to operate Karish, noting that now, he [Lapid] wants to give Lebanon – without any Israeli supervision – a gas field worth billions of dollars that would help Hezbollah possess thousands of missiles and shells that will be target “Israel”.
Addressing Israelis, Netanyahu said that on November 1, the Likud party, under his presidency, will replace Lapid’s weak and dangerous Israeli government with a stable right-wing government for the next four years; a government, according to Netanyahu, that will restore security and the dignity of “Israel”.
“Israel” made concessions to avoid escalation in Karish: IOF official
Earlier, the Israeli Maariv newspaper quoted Amos Yadlin, former IOF Military Intelligence Directorate as saying that “Israel has made concessions in favor of Lebanon to demarcate the border to ward off the danger of escalation.”
“Israel is showing leniency in the demarcation of the maritime borders,” Yadlin said, threatening Lebanon that the IOF does not want it to turn into Gaza.
He highlighted the prominent role played by Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah in this case, “which is indicative of the fact that he controls what is happening in Lebanon politically and militarily, which may push the Lebanese and the Israelis to a place that the two do not want,” as he put it.
The former IOF official claimed that “Israel today has accepted the Lebanese line, and therefore, there is no place for Nasrallah’s demands concerning the Ras Al-Naqoura area.”
Referring to the area adjacent to an area the IOF usurped from the Palestinians and consequently occupied, Yadlin insolently demanded “compensation for ceding the maritime economic zone in Ras Al-Naqoura and all the region to the south Qana field.”
“We insist on these points,” he said, claiming that Sayyed Nasrallah “here has been trying to cause distortion.”
Furthermore, Yadlin claimed that Karish is “purely Israeli” and that “we have to pump gas from there,” continuing to say, “The moment you concede to Nasrallah just once, you have to follow it with setting limits, because if the situation deteriorates toward an inevitable war, we know that we have done everything we can to prevent it.”
This comes as Israeli media reported Monday that the signing between “Israel” and Lebanon of the agreement “on the maritime borders” is very close, stressing that what remains are “some technical details.”
Similarly, Lebanese President Michel Aoun confirmed that negotiations related to the demarcation of the maritime border with “Israel” are in their final stages.
Fearing escalation, IOF request clarification on Karish statement
Last week, Israeli media said that “it was the Israeli army that requested that clarification be issued regarding [an Israeli statement regarding] the Karish field, in order not to provoke tensions against Hezbollah.”
Israeli Channel 13 stated that “the fear of a confrontation with Hezbollah has increased in recent weeks regarding the Karish gas platform. Despite Israel’s announcement that the next stage regarding the activation of the platform will begin soon, it has indicated, exceptionally, that the talk is not about extracting gas from it.”
Channel 13 political affairs correspondent, Moriah Wahlberg, pointed out that “this clarification was not made in vain, but is rather aimed primarily at the ears of Hezbollah, as they in Israel do not want to create, provoke, and increase tensions, especially since these tensions already exist on this issue.”
Wahlberg pointed out that “there is a disagreement in the Israeli leadership regarding the text of this statement, which was issued by the Ministry of Energy,” stressing that “some parties believed that this clarification should not be given in the matter of natural gas extraction, but parties in the army requested that this clarification be issued in order to avoid tensions with Hezbollah.”
It is noteworthy that a source familiar with the matter revealed to Al Mayadeen, on September 11, that the US envoy for the demarcation of the maritime border, Amos Hochstein, handed Lebanon the coordinates of the line of maritime buoys, explaining that these coordinates constitute the “last point that is being negotiated,” in preparation for sending his [Hochstein’s] “full offer” next week.
‘Israel’ claims that the UNIFIL serves as Hezbollah ‘human shield’; but it is either a Hezbollah shield or a human shield given that the group is a military one.
A couple of days ago, the Jerusalem Post was campaigning “to prevent UNIFIL serving as Hezbollah’s “Human Shield” in a potential devastating conflict.”
Combining both terms either means that the Resistance group is measured by its people who embrace it as a choice, an ideology, and a defender, or means that those selecting the term are anxious and confused enough not to be able to differentiate between the shield regular people need in case of a war and the techniques a giant regional and skillful power like Hezbollah would deploy in any confrontation to protect its weapons and personnel alike.
In either option, Hezbollah remains weighty within its environment.
‘Israel’, however, would never be in a place to evaluate humanity. The child-killing regime that has been massacring families and wiping out entire households to avenge its consecutive defeats in the military confrontations against the resistance groups in Lebanon and Palestine is in no position to decide whether the UNIFIL is a ‘human’ or at least a ‘shield’ for Hezbollah and its people.
Amid the heightened tensions over the demarcation of the maritime border in the Qana and the disputed Karish gas fields, the scenario of an imminent military confrontation looms, bringing to one’s mind, before anything else, the numerous ‘Israeli’ massacres committed against civilians. Those massacres amount to war crimes, international crimes, and crimes against humanity.
Historical Flashback: April 1996, July 2006 and in Between
During the Zionist regime’s aggression on Lebanon in 1996, dubbed “Grapes of Wrath,” ‘Israeli’ warplanes fired artillery shells at a United Nations compound belonging to the Fiji force on April 18. More than 106 men, women, and children lost their lives in this ferocious attack. 116 others sustained critical injuries. All civilians who fell victim of this massacre sought refuge in the UNIFIL’s headquarters, but even the international mission wasn’t spared in this attack.
‘Israel’ claimed the attack was carried out ‘by mistake’, although everybody knows that it was on purpose.
The ‘Israeli’ massacres multiplied, and the snowball effect of the Tel Aviv regime’s criminality started enlarging. The sole difference was that it was not as white as snow, but as red as blood!
Days have passed until July the 30th, when 50 people were martyred and injured in the ‘Israeli’ bombardment of a three-story residential building in the same southern Lebanese village, Qana, where number of the displaced people sought refuge in. This was in the July 2006 war on Lebanon, which the ‘Israeli’ occupiers named as “Second Lebanon War.”
As this month marks the anniversary of the end of that war, it is good to mention that this war ended up with a humiliating defeat to the ‘Israeli’ occupiers. The 33-day war ended on August 14, imposing so far 16 years of deterrence on the ‘Israeli’ occupation forces.
Mistake Me ‘Not!’
For the time being, as everyone is anticipating a possible military confrontation, ‘Israel’ would never be mistaken… whatever ‘Israel’ does is what ‘Israel’ wanted to do!
Infuriated by the UNIFIL’s ‘inaction’ towards Hezbollah’s building up of its arsenal, the Zionist regime would never hesitate to target the organization’s sites in any future war. History is a good proof in this regard, no matter how many claims about ‘shelling by mistake’ are made. The military that boasts of its aerial superiority in comparison with Hezbollah’s at the time would never carry out such strike but on purpose.
Although it achieves no military goal, committing such massacres quenches the bloodthirst of the ‘Israeli’ occupiers, and fuels much hatred to this colonial regime among true humans.
The Zionist irritation has been conveyed in several opinion pieces published by ‘Israeli’ media outlets.
One of them lamented that “Unfortunately, the past few years have seen the force turn into a growing “white elephant.” It cannot prevent Blue Line violations, it is unable to deter clear Hezbollah infractions [such as Radwan light infantry activity], and is unable to rollback what is clearly a major Hezbollah intelligence collection effort.”
Meanwhile, in a piece entitled “Hezbollah Undermines ‘Israel’s’ Air Superiority in Lebanon,” Amos Harel wrote for Haaretz that “Hezbollah creates facts on the ground, provokes ‘Israel’ and collects tactical intelligence without UNIFIL being able to fulfill its mission.”
For his part, Yossi Mekelberg penned for Arab News that UNIFIL can only look on as ‘Israel’-Hezbollah tensions mount.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon [UNIFIL] is a UN peacekeeping mission established on 19 March 1978 by United Nations Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426, to confirm the withdrawal of the ‘Israeli’ occupation forces from Lebanon after invading it five days prior.
It is seriously alarming that the systematic propaganda against the UN mission would add fuel to the flames of hatred within the Zionist establishment. The fact rules out the possibility that in case of any military confrontation, civilians would be safe by taking refuge in UNIFIL bases if they had to. But in case they had to, the survivors among us will be certain that ‘Israel’ killed them on purpose…
‘Israel’ fears people way more than it fears Hezbollah’s arsenal. It is people that Hezbollah weighs on. They are the group’s most honorable, most valuable, and purest asset to which it sacrifices everything, and for whom it is present on the forefronts to preserve their dignity and their wealth equally.
Hezbollah has implemented a travel ban on all its members due to growing tensions with Israel and the current political situation in Iraq.
The ban is deemed unusual, as many pilgrims had already booked travel tickets and reserved seats to visit Iraq’s holy sites.
The situation between Hezbollah and Israel remains tense as a result of a maritime dispute over oil and gas exploration rights in the Mediterranean sea.
The row over the Karish gas field escalated in June and has since drawn international attention.
Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are mediated by the US state department, under the oversight of US senior advisor for energy security Amos Hochstein.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has warned that a response would be imminent should Israel fail to respect the interests of the Lebanese people and that the group would stand up “in defense of our resources of oil and gas.”
In addition, the current political situation in Iraq likely contributed to the decision, as large numbers of supporters travel to Iraq to commemorate the forty days of martyrdom of Imam Hussein in Karbala.
Iraq has been experiencing a ten-month-long political deadlock with mass mobilizations in the country’s capital.
Supporters of the Coordination Framework (CF) demand the formation of a new government by the current parliament, while Sadrist supporters call for a dissolution of the parliament and fresh elections.
While the Sadrist movement was able to win 73 out of 329 seats in the October 2021 election, Muqtada al-Sadr failed to create a coalition government, leading to the resignation of his MPs.
Iraq’s judicial court resumed its activities on Wednesday, following mobilizations of Al-Sadr supporters around its headquarters. The country’s top court has announced it would hold a session on dissolving Iraq’s parliament, despite previous statements that it is not within its jurisdiction.
Member of Hezbollah’s Central Council Sheikh Nabil Kawouk (photo from archive).
Member of Hezbollah’s Central Council Sheikh Nabil Qawouq lashed out at the United States for procrastinating and denying Lebanon rights in the issue of maritime talks with the Zionist entity
In a ceremony in south Lebanon on Hezbollah’s 40th anniversary and the 16th anniversary of the divine victory in 2006, Sheikh Qawouq said the US policy of procrastination is aimed at giving the Israeli enemy an opportunity to drill for and extract oil and gas from the Mediterranean.
“Equations imposed by the Lebanese resistance put an end to policy of pleasing the embassies in Lebanon in favor of the national interest and wealth.”
Sheikh Qawouq stressed meanwhile, that Lebanon will triumph against the Zionist entity in the battle to restore its maritime rights.
“The Resistance has drawn the red lines and has prepared to fight till the end of the line.”
The Hezbollah official reiterated the Lebanese resistance’s party’s stance regarding the presidential election, calling for holding the vote on time and to form a government that is capable to face the current challenges.
Sheikh Qawouq also saluted the Palestinian people for confronting the continuous Israeli aggression on Gaza and the West Bank.
ليس معلوماً بعد السبب الذي دفع وسائل الإعلام الإسرائيلية إلى نشر خبر، الأسبوع الماضي، عن زيارة سرية قام بها الوسيط الأميركي في ملف ترسيم الحدود اللبنانية – الفلسطينية المحتلة عاموس هوكشتين إلى تل أبيب، وما إذا كان هناك من ضلّل الإعلام العبري. إذ إن الجانب الأميركي بادر بنفي الأمر. وتم، بعيداً من الإعلام، إبلاغ جهات عدة في لبنان والمنطقة وأوروبا بأن الإسرائيليين ليسوا جاهزين بعد لتقديم جواب نهائي لانشغالهم بتطورات الحرب على غزة والاستنفار في الضفة الغربية. لكن اللافت أن هذه «التوضيحات» الأميركية رافقها الإصرار على ترداد لازمة أن الأمور «قابلة للحل»، وأضافوا على ذلك أن «كل القوى السياسية في إسرائيل تدرك أن ملف الترسيم شأن يخص الأمن القومي ولا يمكن إقحامه في المعركة الانتخابية الداخلية».
(مروان بو حيدر)
وإذا كانت حكومة يائير لابيد قد أملت في تحقيق تقدّم في العدوان على غزة تستثمره في ملف الترسيم مع لبنان، فإن الصورة ليست على هذا النحو حتى الآن. لكن المؤكّد أن كل الرسائل الإسرائيلية غير المعلنة التي وصلت إلى بيروت، عبر الأميركيين مباشرة أو عبر الأمم المتحدة أو عبر ناقلي رسائل من عواصم عربية، تركز على أن «المستوى السياسي في إسرائيل ينصت جيداً إلى المستوى العسكري والأمني، ويعرف أن الحل يجب أن يستند إلى حسابات تتصل بكلفة الرفض أو الحديث عن كلفة القبول بالمطالب اللبنانية». وبحسب مصادر معنية بالملف، فقد تلقّت إسرائيل، عبر جهات مختلفة، التوضيحات الكافية حول موقف الحكومة اللبنانية وحزب الله، وموجزه الآتي: أولاً، أن المهلة الزمنية للعدو لحسم الأمر لم تتغير ولا تتجاوز منتصف أيلول المقبل، وأي إشارات تسويف أو إطلاق مناورات سياسية أو حتى عمليات عسكرية ستدفع المقاومة إلى تقليص المهلة. ثانياً، أن المقاومة ترفض ربط الملف بالانتخابات الإسرائيلية، وهي غير معنية بأي نقاش حول الواقع السياسي في إسرائيل وانعكاسات الملف على الانتخابات وغيره من التفاصيل التي تهم السياسيين الإسرائيليين. ثالثاً، أن معادلة المقاومة لا تزال ثابتة، ومفادها أنه لا يمكن لإسرائيل البدء في استخراج الغاز من أي منصة في البحر الفلسطيني المحتل، وليس من منصة «كاريش» فقط، ما لم يُعلن رفع الحظر المفروض على عمل الشركات في التنقيب والاستخراج في البحر اللبناني بعد حسم حقوق لبنان في الحقول والخطوط وفق ما تسلّمه هوكشتين من الرؤساء الثلاثة في آخر زيارة له إلى بيروت. رابعاً، أن المقاومة جدية، وقد أرسلت إشارات عملانية تدل على استعدادها لضرب مجموعة من المنصات دفعة واحدة إذا لزم الأمر. وقد أُحيطت كل الشركات الأجنبية العاملة في هذه الحقول علماً بذلك وتبلّغت تحذيرات من مغبة الاشتراك في ما تعتبره المقاومة اعتداء إسرائيلياً على لبنان، ما دفع الجانب اليوناني الذي نفى بداية ملكيته لسفينة «إنيرجين» إلى التراجع والإقرار بذلك وبأن غالبية العاملين على متنها يونانيون. وقد أكّدت الحكومة اليونانية أنها لا تريد التورط في مشكلة، ورفضت تحميلها مسؤولية عمل «إنيرجين» لأنها شركة تجارية لا تمثل الحكومة. وقد تجدّد قلق أثينا بعدما لامست تهديدات المقاومة حدوداً فاجأت حتى العاملين على السفينة، وهي تتصرف بحذر كبير وتعرف أنها ستكون مسؤولة، بشكل أو بآخر، وباتت تدرك، كما شركات عالمية أخرى، أن الضمانات الإسرائيلية لم تعد كافية. خامساً، أن محاولة العدو المناورة من خلال تجميد العمل في منصة «كاريش» مقابل تجميد تهديد المقاومة أو تعطيله سيصار إلى الرد عليها بالتأكيد أنه لا يمكن للعدو استخراج الغاز من كل حقول المتوسط ما لم يقرّ بحقوق لبنان، وما لم تبادر الولايات المتحدة بتوقيع تعهد خطي علني يضمن حرية لبنان في استقدام أي شركة عالمية للعمل في حقوله. عملياً، تؤكّد المصادر المعنية أن التوقعات حول الجولة الجديدة من الاتصالات تتركز الآن على معلومة تفيد بأن هوكشتين ينتظر تأكيداً على مواعيد له في إسرائيل خلال هذا الأسبوع. وأنه في حال حصل الأمر، يفترض أن يتوجّه إلى تل أبيب للحصول على ما يمكن وصفه بالحل. وفي حال كانت المناخات سلبية فإن الموفد الأميركي ليس مضطراً للذهاب، بالتالي ستكون مهمته التالية في لبنان معقّدة، لأن فكرة التفاوض من جديد على إطار للبحث وترسيم وخلافه لم تعد ممكنة.
المقاومة كرّرت لاءاتها: لا تسويف، لا ربط للملف بالانتخابات الإسرائيلية، لا استخراج إلا مقابل استخراج
التسريبات السلبية… لبنانية وعلمت «الأخبار» أنه فور انتشار تسريبات في الأيام القليلة الماضية حول مناخات سلبية ورفض إسرائيلي لمقترحات لبنان، عمد هوكشتين إلى التواصل سريعاً مع مسؤولين لبنانيين مؤكداً لهم أن الأمر «غير صحيح ولم يحصل»، وأنه عندما غادر لبنان إلى فلسطين المحتلة، عقب زيارته الأخيرة لبيروت، أمضى هناك ست ساعات فقط التقى خلالها رئيس الحكومة الإسرائيلية، وأنه لا يزال في انتظار تحديد موعد جديد له. في هذه الأثناء، كان لافتاً أن التدقيق الذي أجرته جهات رسمية حول خلفية التسريبات أكّدت أنها «لبنانية المصدر والفبركة والنشر»، وأن جهات سياسية تقف خلف الأمر من زاوية أنها تعتبر أن مجرد إشاعة مناخ إيجابي حول الملف تحت ضغط حزب الله يعطي الحزب مكانة متقدمة، كما يفيد الرئيس ميشال عون. كما تخشى هذه الجهات، وعلى رأسها القوات اللبنانية، من أن يؤدي هذا المناخ الإيجابي – معطوفاً على مناخات الانفتاح في المنطقة – إلى توسع مروحة القوى والشخصيات التي تبادر بالحوار مع حزب الله كما فعل رئيس الحزب التقدمي وليد جنبلاط. علماً أن هاجس هذه الجهات يتركز على انعكاسات مثل هذا الحوار على التحضيرات للانتخابات الرئاسية المقبلة. مع الإشارة إلى أن «الهبل» السياسي وصل حدّ جهر مسؤولين في القوات بتفضيلهم عدم التوصل إلى حل لاستخراج النفط والغاز قبل التخلص من حزب الله وتأثيراته على الدولة اللبنانية. وهو الموقف نفسه الذي يفضّل العتمة على قبول هبة الفيول الإيرانية التي يتكل الأميركيون ليس على فريق 14 آذار لرفضها بل على رئيس الحكومة نجيب ميقاتي.
استفتاء في إسرائيل إلى ذلك، أدخلت إسرائيل نفسها في تعقيدات «قضائية – دستورية» في ملف الترسيم مع لبنان، بعد تقديم منظمة «منتدى كوهلت للسياسات» التماساً أمام محكمة العدل العليا في القدس المحتلة، طالبت فيه بإصدار حكم قضائي يلزم تل أبيب إجراء استفتاء عام على أي «تنازل» للجانب اللبناني. ويفتح ذلك باب النزاع في أكثر من اتجاه وعلى أكثر من فرضية ما يزيد منسوب القلق من إمكان التسبب في مواجهة عسكرية مع حزب الله. فهل تفرمل المحكمة العليا خطوات الحل وتعيده إلى نقطة البداية مع إمكان التسبب بتصعيد وربما أيضاً بمواجهة؟ سؤال سيكون على طاولة مداولات قضاة المحكمة، المفترض بهم أن يحددوا حكمهم وفقاً للمصلحة الإسرائيلية التي تضع في رأس أولوياتها التهديدات الأمنية. ويعدّ الالتماس جزءاً من حركة «اعتراض» إسرائيلية، بعضها ضد أي اتفاق مع لبنان يعزّز مكانة حزب الله في الساحة اللبنانية بوصفه مقاومة، وبعضها الآخر من منطلق الخصومة السياسية الداخلية بين موالاة ومعارضة عشية الانتخابات التشريعية، رغم أن القرار في نهاية المطاف يستند إلى «فتوى» المؤسسة الأمنية التي يمكنها «إقناع» الجميع، بمن فيهم القضاء، بالتوجه إلى حل ديبلوماسي سواء تضمن «تنازلات» سيادية أم لا. مع ذلك، يطرح تأخر الوسيط الأميركي في إنجاز وساطته أكثر من علامة استفهام: هل يريد هوكشتين وإسرائيل استهلاك الوقت المعطى لهما في التسويف والمماطلة إلى أن تفرض تل أبيب وقائع ميدانية يتعذر الرجوع عنها؟ أو أن التسويف يأتي في سياق تمرير الوقت إلى حده الأقصى قبل الرد على الموقف اللبناني من الترسيم ما يخفّف وطأة «التنازل» عن إسرائيل؟ أم أن إرادة التسويف وترحيل الردود إلى ما قبل موعد استخراج الغاز من حقل «كاريش» يتيح لتل أبيب تضمين أجوبتها بنوداً ملغومة وحمّالة أوجه للاستناد إليها لاحقاً في حال التراجع عن الاتفاقات؟ أما السؤال الأكثر حضوراً فهو ما يتعلق بالموقف الأميركي نفسه: هل يتحرك هوكشتين وفقاً لأجندة مسؤوليه في واشنطن، المفترض في أي حل أن يزعزع استراتيجيتهم في مواجهة حزب الله في لبنان، أم وفقاً لأجندة إسرائيل التي تسعى، ما أمكنها، إلى تجنب أي سبب يؤدي إلى مواجهة عسكرية مع حزب الله؟
Hezbollah Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah delivered a speech on the Day of Ashura in which he conveyed messages all across the region, affirming mainly the readiness, capabilities, and preparedness of the resistance against any aggression, and renewing that Lebanon would never concede any of its rights and resources.
Sayyed Nasrallah reminded the enemies that “We are the lovers and followers of the Imam who stood on the same day like this one during which he rejected any kind of humiliation.”
At the end of the massive Ashura March that Hezbollah organized in Beirut’s Southern Suburb [Dahiyeh] on Tuesday morning, the Resistance leader underlined that on the day of defending the dignities, “I tell you and I tell all the Lebanese people, especially the people of the Resistance, and mainly the resistance fighters, that we have to be ready and prepared for any scenario.”
At the beginning of his speech, Sayyed Nasrallah thanked the mourners and the participants in the Ashura commemorations, telling them: “Today, you express your loyalty, love, and faithfulness as you did over the past 40 years, no matter how harsh the circumstances were.”
The Hezbollah leader started the speech by sympathizing with to the Nigerian people who have been shot by the regime forces while commemorating Ashura mourning procession, and condoling with Nigerian leader Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zakzaky on this massacre.
Then Sayyed Nasrallah set the standard of humanity, Islam, honor, and for those who claim Arabism, which he identified as the stance towards Palestine, and what happens there and against its oppressed people.
“The Palestinian people fight in Gaza and Nablus, impose their equations, and affirm that resistance is their sole way,” His Eminence said, renewing commitment to the Palestinian cause and supporting the resisting Palestinian people.
Additionally, he said we are proud of the Palestinian resistance fighters and martyrs, but questioned the stance of those who claim to be Muslims regarding the blood that was shed in Palestine. His Eminence then affirmed Hezbollah’s stance being at the forefront of confronting the Zionist enemy.
Slamming the Bahraini regime, Sayyed Nasrallah termed it as the ugliest among those who normalized ties with the ‘Israeli’ occupation entity as it doesn’t tolerate the presence of the Hussaini banners while it allows the Zionists to tour in the kingdom.
Moving to praise the Yemeni people’s patience and defiance, Sayyed Nasrallah said: “On the Day of Ashura, we renew our unending support to the Yemeni people regardless of anything [consequences].”
“The Yemenis don’t skip any of the Ummah’s occasions despite the blockade, pain and wounds they are suffering from; the Yemeni people are the true representation of Imam Hussein [AS]’s Karbala, and we believe that supporting them is the most urgent duty in this world.”
Regarding the unrest in Iraq, the Hezbollah leader hoped that the Iraqi people solve their internal disputes to save their country from what is being plotted against it, cautioning as well that there are countries and peoples who are besieged in Gaza, Syria, and Yemen with the aim of being forced to surrender.
As for the Islamic Republic of Iran, Sayyed Nasrallah said it will remain the strongest power of Islam and the Axis of Resistance, recalling on this day the prominent martyr Qassem Soleimani and his brother martyr Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
On the local level, Sayyed Nasrallah said “In Lebanon we are facing the blockade and the sanctions, and we will keep looking forward to a better future for a strong, free, and dignified Lebanon,” warning that the hand that will touch our wealth will be cut, as it was cut when it touched the Lebanese soil.
Meanwhile, Sayyed Nasrallah advised the Lebanese officials to experience the people’s pain to be able to ease it, and called for forming a true government that has authorities to shoulder the responsibilities whether a president of the republic was elected or not.
As for the indirect negotiations on the maritime border demarcation and the disputed gas and oil in the sea, Sayyed Nasrallah said: “In this battle, we are serious to the maximum level, and as I addressed the Americans in the past, who present themselves as mediators but they are not, I tell the ‘Israelis’ that from now on, Lebanon and its people would never forgive looting their resources. We’ve reached the end, and let nobody test or threaten us.”
“In the coming days we wait the enemy’s response regarding Lebanon’s demands over the maritime border demarcation,” His Eminence underlined, lecturing the enemy that “Lebanon and its people won’t accept from now on looting its wealth, and we are ready for any scenario.”
As Sayyed Nasrallah noted that the Resistance has received the messages that were wanted to be conveyed in the war on Gaza, he added that “we have seen the defiance in Gaza, and we in Lebanon have another account to settle [with the ‘Israeli’ enemy].”
“The resistance is stronger than any time before,” the Hezbollah leader told the enemy, advising it not to commit any mistake against Lebanon and its people. “The enemy has to recognize the side it is facing and that there is in Lebanon a resistance that has proven it can defeat the army that was referred to as ‘invincible’.”
We have received some reports in the past days that plans to assassinate Islamic Jihad and Hamas leaders, and other Palestinian resistance factions’ figures outside Palestine, including Lebanon, Sayyed Nasrallah warned, answering such threat by the following warning: “Any attack against any person in Lebanon won’t go unpunished and won’t go unanswered.”
By the end of his speech, Sayyed Nasrallah voiced Lebanon and the Lebanese people’s rejection of looting their wealth, violating their sovereignty, and imposing things against their will.
“We foresee the promising future that has been shaped by the victory of the blood against the sword,” Sayyed Nasrallah concluded.
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تطورات متسارعة ومتناقضة ترافق انتظار لبنان عودة الوسيط الأميركي عاموس هوكشتين، بعدما حمل من بيروت الى تل أبيب، الأسبوع الماضي، الموقف اللبناني الذي وثّقه اجتماع بعبدا بموقف موحّد من الرؤساء الثلاثة، يقوم على الإقرار بحق لبنان في الخط 23، مع كامل حقل قانا، وإعطاء ضمانات للشركات بالتنقيب بعد إنجاز الترسيم، ورفض أي كلام عن أي تنقيب مشترك تتولّاه شركة واحدة.
ومع أن هوكشتين عقد اجتماعات مع كبار المسؤولين الإسرائيليين، وناقشت الحكومة الإسرائيلية المُصغرة الأمر الأربعاء الماضي، إلا أنه تبيّن أن العدو لم يصل إلى قرار في هذا الشأن، وأن التركيز كان على خطة العدوان على قطاع غزة. فيما يبدو أن الحكومة الإسرائيلية المؤقتة تميل إلى التسويف وتأخير بتّ الملف الى فترة لاحقة، مع إعطاء إشارات متناقضة، من بينها احتمال تأخير بدء الاستخراج من حقل «كاريش»، بالتزامن مع معلومات عن أن انشغال الإسرائيليين بالعدوان على غزة قد يؤخّر مهمة هوكشتين، علماً بأن الأخير حاول خلال زيارته لبيروت التقليل من أهمية تهديدات حزب الله، من زاوية أن «إسرائيل لا يمكنها الخضوع لابتزاز حزب الله لأن ذلك سيفتح الباب أمام ممارسة أطراف أخرى هذا النوع من الابتزاز»، بخلاف السفيرة الأميركية دوروثي شيا التي قالت لزوار لبنانيين ولمسؤولين في الإدارة الأميركية إنه ينبغي التعامل بجدية مع تهديدات الأمين العام لحزب الله السيد حسن نصر الله.
وسيط عربي وعلمت «الأخبار» أن رسائل أميركية وصلت الى الجهات اللبنانية المعنية بالملف، ليس عبر القناة القطرية هذه المرة، بل عبر الكويت التي نقل مسؤول فيها أن الولايات المتحدة حصلت من إسرائيل على ضمانات بأنها ستعطي لبنان ما يريده في مسألة الترسيم، لكنها تميل إلى تأجيل الأمر الى ما بعد انتخابات الكنيست في إسرائيل. وبدا ناقل الرسالة مهتماً بمعرفة موقف المقاومة من هذا الطرح أكثر من أي أمر آخر.
وأفادت المعلومات بأن الوسيط الكويتي سمع كلاماً واضحاً بأن المقاومة غير معنية بالانتخابات في إسرائيل، وهي أساساً لا تميّز بين حكومة وأخرى وبين حزب حاكم وآخر، بل تعتبر الجميع مسؤولين عن كيان عنصري يحترف الحروب وسرقة موارد العرب وثرواتهم وحقوقهم. كما أن المقاومة تعمل وفق أجندتها وليس وفق الأجندة الإسرائيلية أو الأميركية، وهي غير معنية من قريب أو بعيد بالتفاوض القائم المتروك للدولة اللبنانية، لكنها معنية بحصول لبنان على كامل حقوقه من دون زيادة أو نقصان. كما أنها معنية أيضاً بأن يفهم الأميركيون قبل الإسرائيليين أن حقوق لبنان تعني سيادة كاملة على المناطق الاقتصادية الخاصة به، وحرية العمل فيها وفق ما يراه مناسباً، وبالتالي فإن رفع الفيتو الأميركي عن عمل الشركات العالمية في التنقيب والاستخراج في الجانب اللبناني مطلب أساسي. وبحسب المعلومات، فقد أُبلغ الوسيط (لم يعرف ما إذا كان هناك لقاء مباشر بينه وبين المقاومة أو عبر وسيط) أن على العدو أن يتذكّر بأن المقاومة أعلنت أنها لن تنتظر طويلاً وأن المهلة الزمنية غير مفتوحة قبل أن توجّه ضربات مباشرة الى منصات العدو. ورغم أن الأميركيين سبق أن أشاروا الى ضرورة إنجاز الملف من دون ربطه بالانتخابات الإسرائيلية، انتشرت تحليلات بأن حكومة يائير لابيد ستجد نفسها أقوى في حال خروجها من معركة غزة قوية، ما يمكّنها الذهاب نحو اتفاق يتضمّن «تنازلات» في ملف ترسيم الحدود البحرية.
شياطين التفاهمات وسط هذه التطورات، قالت مصادر رفيعة المستوى إن «لبنان ينتظِر الرد الإسرائيلي المكتوب»، وإن «اجتماع بعبدا تولّدت عنه مقاربة جديدة لملف الترسيم، بيّنت أن العدو الإسرائيلي يريد أن ينُجز حلاً في المضمون، لكنه يبحث في الشكل عن مخارج له»، علماً بأن «كل ما حصل منذ الزيارة لم يصل إلى مرتبة الإجراءات العملية»، معتبرة أننا في حالة من «اللاسلبية واللاإيجابية في آن». ولفتت المصادر إلى أنه في حال عودة هوكشتين حاملاً الجواب المكتوب «سيدعى الوفدان اللبناني والإسرائيلي إلى الناقورة مجدداً لتوقيع النصوص برعاية الأمم المتحدة». وقالت مصادر سياسية إن «التفاهمات المفترضة حول ملف الترسيم لن تكون رهن توافق عام فقط»، لأن «ما طرحه الوسيط الأميركي كان على أساس أن يتولى هو مواصلة المفاوضات وصياغة التفاهم، وأن يصار الى عقد اجتماع واحد أو اجتماعين في الناقورة لأجل الإقرار». لكن رئيس مجلس النواب نبيه بري قال لزواره إن «العناوين العامة جرى النقاش حولها، وهو (هوكشتين) سمع منا وذهب الى الإسرائيليين ليعود بجواب، ونحن ننتظر. وفي حال حصول تقدم، سيحال الأمر الى مفاوضات غير مباشرة في الناقورة». وبحسب المصادر، فإن «ما يهدف إليه الوسيط الأميركي ولو برعاية الأمم المتحدة هو توقيع اتفاق أو تفاهم بين لبنان والعدو برعاية دولية يشتمل على كل نقاط الخلاف». وبالتالي، يعتقد مطّلعون في بيروت أن مثل هذا الأمر «لا يقف عند حدود تفاهم عام، بل هو مرتبط بتفاهم مفصل». ما يعني أنه سيكون هناك جهد حثيث، له بعده القانوني والأمني والتقني، وهذا يتطلب فريقاً متخصصاً، ما يعيد الحديث عن تشكيل الوفد اللبناني الى جولات التفاوض غير المباشر في الناقورة. ورأت المصادر نفسها أن كلام رئيس كتلة الوفاء للمقاومة النائب محمد رعد عن «أننا نريد أن نرى بأعيننا الاتفاق لا أن نسمعه مجرد أخبار»، يتضمن إشارة واضحة الى أن «المقاومة ملتزمة بموقفها منع العدو من أي عملية استخراج قبل الوصول الى تفاهم يحفظ كامل حقوق لبنان. وهو ما يعني ضمناً أن المقاومة التي تنسّق مع الرؤساء الثلاثة وتتواصل مع جهات دولية، لن تكون بعيدة عن تفاصيل الاتفاق، من دون أن تكون شريكة لا في التفاوض ولا في الصياغة».
اليونان تتراجع وتقرّ بملكية سفينة الاستخراج وتخشى على حياة العاملين على متنها
وكان لافتاً ما تمّت الإشارة إليه من أن لبنان لم يحصل بعد على إقرار إسرائيلي كامل بحقه في كل ما هو شمال الخط 23، بالإضافة الى بقية حقل قانا. إذ لفت مصدر مطّلع الى أن «نائب رئيس مجلس النواب إلياس بوصعب كان قد تهرّب من سؤال الصحافيين حول هذه النقطة بعد اجتماع بعبدا الأخير،. ليتبيّن أن الأميركيين يشيرون الى أن إسرائيل قد تقبل بأن يُصار الى التمييز بين الملكية والسيادة القانونية. بمعنى أن تحسب كامل حصة حقل قانا للبنان، على أن تحتفظ هي بحقها في جزء من الحقل عند الترسيم، وهو أمر يرفضه لبنان بصورة قاطعة». ورغم انشغال قيادة العدو بالعدوان على قطاع غزة، إلا أن الدبلوماسية الأميركية تتحدث كما الجهات الأوروبية (التي يقول دبلوماسيوها بشكل صريح إن الملف كله في عهدة الأميركيين) عن استمرار المساعي والاتصالات لضمان حصول الوسيط الأميركي على موقف إسرائيلي يعود به الى بيروت لضمان الأجواء الإيجابية، وخصوصاً أن هوكشتين لم يتمكن من الحصول على أي وعد من أي جهة لبنانية بأن المقاومة ستقف مكتوفة الأيدي أمام المماطلة.
قلق يوناني إلى ذلك، طرأ تطور تمثّل في تبدّل الموقف اليوناني من مسألة ملكية سفينة الاستخراج «إنيرجيان». وقد طلبت سفيرة اليونان في لبنان كاثرين فونتولاكي موعداً للاجتماع اليوم مع وزير الخارجية عبد الله بوحبيب لمناقشة ملف ترسيم الحدود والسفينة. وكان الوسيط الأميركي قد استغرب نفي اليونان علاقتها بالسفينة، مؤكداً أن اليونانيين يملكون الحصة الأكبر من الشركة وأن مديرها العام يوناني. وفي وقت لاحق من الأسبوع الماضي، سارع اليونانيون الى تبديل روايتهم الأولى، بعدما أبلغوا لبنان، بعد تهديدات الأمين العام لحزب الله، عبر رسالة رسمية أن اليونان تملك حصة تأسيسية في الشركة. قبل أن تعود أثينا، في الأيام القليلة الماضية، إلى إبلاغ لبنان رسمياً أن يونانيين يملكون أسهماً كبيرة في الشركة، وأن المدير التنفيذي يوناني الجنسية وأن معظم البحارة العاملين على السفينة يونانيون. ويعكس هذا التطور، بحسب مصدر معني، القلق اليوناني المتعاظم من احتمال ضرب السفينة. وبحسب معلومات، سمع اليونانيون الذين تواصلوا مع مسؤولين في حزب الله كلاماً واضحاً بضرورة سحب السفينة، وأن أثينا وأصحاب السفينة يتحمّلون المسؤولية عن أي ضرر مادي أو بشري يصيبها.
ليس أمراً عابراً أن يُجمع كبار القادة العسكريين والأمنيّين في كيان العدو على أن عدم التوصل الى اتفاق مع لبنان على ترسيم الحدود البحرية، سيؤدي الى تصعيد عسكري نتيجة خطوات عملياتية سيقدم عليها حزب الله، ستتدحرج بالضرورة الى «أيام قتالية»، كما كشف موقع «واللا» العبري. يظهر هذا الإجماع أن حزب الله نجح في أن يحفر في الوعي الجمعي لمؤسسات التقدير والقرار الأمني تصميمه وجديّته في فرض معادلته التي أعلن عنها أمينه العام السيد حسن نصر الله، وأن إسرائيل غير قادرة على ردعه. وأظهرت مشاركة رؤساء الأجهزة الأمنية والعسكرية (رئيس أركان الجيش أفيف كوخافي ورئيس الاستخبارات العسكرية أهارون حاليفا ورئيس دائرة الأبحاث عميت ساعر ورئيس الموساد ددي برنياع ورئيس الشاباك رونين بار ومستشار الأمن القومي إيال حولتا) أن المناقشات في جلسة المجلس الوزاري المصغر كانت شاملة لكل الجوانب الأمنية والسياسية والعسكرية، وتهدف استناداً الى ذلك إلى اتخاذ قرار حاسم في شأن المفاوضات حول الحدود البحرية مع لبنان، علماً بأن الجلسة أتت في أعقاب زيارة المبعوث الأميركي عاموس هوكشتين لـ«إسرائيل»، قادماً من لبنان حيث سمع بوضوح أن الوقت يضيق.
ومع أن الدور الذي تقوم به الأجهزة الأمنية والعسكرية هو تقديم التقديرات والتوصيات، وأن القرار النهائي يبقى في يد المستوى السياسي، إلا أن ما أدلت به هذه الأجهزة وضع القيادة السياسية أمام خيارين: أولهما هدوء أمني يستلزم اتفاقاً يلبّي مطالب لبنان، وثانيهما عدم اتفاق يقود إلى مواجهة عسكرية، فيما لا يوجد أيّ بديل يمكن إسرائيل أن تراهن عليه لثني حزب الله عن خياراته التي التزم بها.
افيغدور ليبرمان: آخر ما نبحث عنه هو مواجهة مع لبنان
في هذا السياق، أكد وزير المالية وعضو المجلس الوزاري المصغر افيغدور ليبرمان بأن «الأمر الأخير الذي نبحث عنه هو مواجهة مع لبنان» في موقف يؤشر إلى الاتجاه العام للخيار الإسرائيلي. ولم يفوّت ليبرمان المعروف بمواقفه المتطرفة، فرصة تكرار التهديدات الإسرائيلية وإن بعبارات قديمة – جديدة انه في حال «هاجم حزب الله منصة الغاز وفرض علينا مواجهة سنمحو الضاحية الجنوبية»، مع انه يعلم بأن ذلك سيؤدي إلى تدمير مشابه في تل ابيب. وكشف بعض ما دار خلال جلسة المجلس الوزاري المصغر حول إمكانية نشوب مواجهة عسكرية محدودة بالقول: «لن نسمح بادارة تبادل ضربات محدودة»، موضحا أن «التجربة تدل على أن أمورا كهذه تخرج ببساطة عن السيطرة»، وهو ما يعني أن هناك توجه في المجلس الوزاري لتجنب هذا السيناريو أيضا. بالتوازي مع هذه المواقف، نقل موقع «واللا» عن مصدر مطّلع على تفاصيل النقاش في جلسة المجلس الوزاري المصغر أنه كان هناك إجماع على أن البديل من الاتفاق يمكن أن يؤدي الى تصعيد، وأنه في وضع كهذا، هناك احتمال كبير لما سمّاه «سوء تقدير» من قبل حزب الله، في إشارة الى قراره بالإقدام على خطوات عسكرية صاخبة، يمكن أن تؤدي الى عدة أيام قتالية. وهو موقف ينطوي أيضاً على إقرار بأن الطرفين لا يريدان التدحرج نحو حرب واسعة. وأضاف الموقع الإسرائيلي إن الجلسة شهدت تقديم صورة وضع عن المفاوضات مع لبنان وتفاصيل الاقتراح اللبناني، والاقتراح الأميركي، والموقف الإسرائيلي. وفي تعبير عن مدى القلق الذي يحضر لدى الجهات الأمنية والسياسية من عدم وجود ضمانات لما قد يقدم عليه حزب الله من رسائل عملياتية أو عمليات عسكرية، نوقشت خلال الجلسة أيضاً «استفزازات» حزب الله ضد منصة «كاريش»، والخوف من أن يقدم على عمليات أخرى، كما أكد المصدر. وكان لافتاً أن المجلس ناقش أيضاً انعكاس انتزاع لبنان حقوقه إيجاباً على صورة المقاومة لدى الرأي العام اللبناني، إذ رأى رئيس الأركان ومسؤولون رفيعو المستوى في الأجهزة الأمنية، بحسب «واللا»، أن حزب الله «معنيّ باستخدام الاتفاق كصورة نصر في الساحة الداخلية اللبنانية». والأهم أن النتيجة التي خلصت إليها الجلسة، بحسب الموقع الإسرائيلي نفسه، أنه لا يوجد اتفاق تستخرج بموجبه إسرائيل الغاز من دون أن يكون للبنان حق الاستخراج، وأنه في هذه الحالة فإن احتمالات الانفجار ستكون مرتفعة جداً. وكما هي العادة، علّق المتحدث باسم الجيش على تقرير «واللا»، بأن «الجيش لا يتطرّق الى ما يتم تداوله في جلسات مغلقة ومصنّفة سرية».
The Zionist circles indicated that the indirect talks to demarcate the maritime borders with Lebanon are ongoing under the pressure of the time set by Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah.
Sayyed Nasrallah had set September as a deadline for either an agreement that gives Lebanon all its offshore gas rights or a war for the sake of defending the Lebanese maritime borders.
On July 2, Hezbollah flew three drones over the Israeli platforms in Karish gas field which lies in the disputable zone, sending a poweful message that warns the enemy against any infringement.
On July 31, Hezbollah military media released a video which shows the Israeli platforms operating in the Mediterranean, warning the Zionist enemy of its attempts to plunder Lebanon’s gas and oil fields.
The video shows surveillance scenes taken from land and air, some form yesterday, for Israeli vessels at the Karish field near the Lebanese maritime borders.
Accordingly, the Israeli enemy is engaging in the indirect negotiations under Hezbollah pressure and the need to sell the extracted gas.
In this context, the Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid met with the US mediator Amos Hochstein just after the latter’s meetings with the Lebanese officials.
The Zionist circles also indicated that ‘Israel’ is in a bad need of stability in order to invest the offshore gas, adding that, in case of any escalation, it will be the biggest loser.
Military correspondent for ‘Israeli’ newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth Yossi Yehoshua said the officials in the Zionist security establishment take very seriously the warnings of Hezbollah Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah regarding the maritime borders with Lebanon and the Karish platform.
The author unveiled that sensitive related arguments took place recently, in which ‘Israeli’ PM Yair Lapid, War Minister Benny Gantz, and Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi participated and discusses the issue of a possible Hezbollah response and the possible ‘Israeli’ response that might follow.
Hezbollah tries to hold ‘Israel’ responsible for the severe power crisis in Lebanon, and it is ready to risk a war for this, according to Yehoshua. He cited comments by Sayyed Nasrallah which the Lebanese al-Akhbar Newspaper quoted in a recent meeting with Ashura orators as saying: “We raise the limit to force the Americans and the ‘Israelis’ to submit as Lebanon’s collapse doesn’t come to an end.”
The writer further considered that “Sayyed Nasrallah has a plenty of choices whether by attacking the platform with booby-trapped drones, divers, or highly likely, according to estimations by the ‘Israeli’ military, by launching a reconnaissance drone as it doesn’t want to risk harming civilians.”
Had it been this way, Yehoshua said, senior figures in the ‘Israeli’ occupation military believe that it is not appropriate to be satisfied with shooting the drone down, but rather to launch a counter attack.
Hezbollah has recently stepped up its warning to the Zionist occupation entity over Lebanon’s border dispute, after the ‘Israeli’ regime moved a natural gas drilling vessel into the Karish field in the disputed area.
Hezbollah sent three unarmed drones toward the Karish platform some three weeks ago, and intended to keep the aerial mission there until the vehicles were targeted by the Zionist military, which Hezbollah Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah explained last week that the aim was to show the engineers operating on the platform the fire and to make them feel their zone of functioning as unsafe one.
Sayyed Nasrallah further warned that drones sent at the Karish gas field were “only the beginning,” and that Hezbollah will not let the ‘Israeli’ occupation entity to extract the occupied Palestine’s gas and oil as long as Lebanon is not benefiting from its resources.
Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdallah Bou Habib met on Wednesday with head of the American Task Force For Lebanon Edward Gabriel heading a delegation.
After the meeting, Gabriel addressed the reporters, conveying an American threat to Lebanon.
Gabriel considered that Lebanon has a small chance to extract its maritime gas resources by concluding a settlement after engaging in negotiations.
Otherwise, Lebanon would not be able to extract its maritime gas for decades, Gabriel added.
It is worth noting that Lebanon has insisted on obtaining its entire maritime rights preserved by a fair and legal border demarcation. However, the Zionist enemy has stubbornly rejected Lebanon’s demands.
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah warned the Israeli enemy and the United States that if Lebanon is prevented from extracting its maritime resources, none will be able to extract or sell gas and oil.
In a televised speech, Sayyed Nasrallah indicated that Hezbollah military forces are monitoring all the Zionist platforms across the occupied Palestinian coast, adding that the Resistance may resort to ground, maritime or air capabilities in order to attack the enemy and secure Lebanon’s rights.
According to Sayyed Nasrallah, the new equation is Karish, what’s beyond Karish and what’s far beyond Karish.
Thus, Hezbollah military power has been writing the long story of Lebanon’s pride of victory that protects the nations and secures its all-leveled prosperity.
Demarcation file: This is what the ambassador told officials two days ago
UPROOTED PALESTINIANS: SALAM ALQUDS ALAYKUM 