Nasrallah warns Israel: Don`t Touch Our Waters.
Posted by A7 News on 27/7/2011, 16:15:21
NASRALLAH WARNS ISRAEL: DON’T TOUCH OUR WATERS
by Elad Benari
Hizbullah leader Hasan Nasrallah warned Israel on Tuesday against
any attempt to encroach on Lebanon’s territorial waters, The Beirut
Daily Star reported.
In a video speech he gave as part of a rally marking the fifth
anniversary of the 2006 Second Lebanon War, Nasrallah stressed that
his group was better equipped and ready to confront any act of
aggression by Israel than at any time before.
“Whoever harms our future oil facilities has their own [facilities]
and consequently will face the same damage,” Nasrallah warned,
adding, “They know that Lebanon is capable of such damage.”
He added, “As long as Lebanon considers [the disputed area] the 850
square kilometer zone as part of its territorial waters, then the
resistance considers it Lebanese and therefore it is no longer
disputed but an area that is encroached upon.
“Lebanon has a diplomatic opportunity to gain it back through
demarcating its maritime borders and we warn Israel not to attempt
to steal this area or Lebanon’s resources from its territorial
waters ... It is necessary to warn Israel,” Nasrallah said.
Israel and Lebanon have been at odds over a disputed maritime border
between the two countries. The Israeli Cabinet recently approved a
“marine economic zone proposal” after Lebanon presented maps to the
United Nations, marking maritime borders that would include part of
the giant Leviathan and Tamar fields. The United Nations previously
has refused to take responsibility for marking the maritime borders.
Israeli firms discovered the two gas fields, which also are believed
to hold large commercially viable oil deposits, two years ago.
Lebanon later claimed the discoveries are in its territory, and it
recently has announced that a Norwegian company will start a seismic
research offshore.
Lebanese Minister of Energy and Water Joubran Bassil said after
Israel defined the maritime border that it “is playing with fire “by
violating Lebanon’s maritime border and oil rights.”
He added, “Obviously we will prevent any violation. However, in case
of violations, Israel will not be the only damaged part, but also
large companies that cooperate with it. We, in Lebanon, respect the
rights of others, and we don’t want to violate the rights of others,
but at the same time, we do not want someone to attack us. Lebanon
will not give up its rights or its borders.”
Nasrallah for his part urged Lebanese politicians in his speech to
act responsibly and seriously in order to take full advantage of the
country’s offshore oil and gas wealth. He then warned Israel that
Hizbullah is ready to deal with any “aggression” on its part.
“I tell [our enemies and friends] that the resistance in Lebanon in
terms of its intelligence, unity, courage, manpower and material
resources is stronger and better than any other time since its
establishment,” Nasrallah said. “As I have always promised you
victory [in the past], I promise you again that victory will be
achieved.”
