http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/4441.htm
MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis|624| July 12, 2010
Lebanon
Internal Conflict in Lebanon Over Control of Oil and Gas Resources
By: H. Varulkar*
Introduction
The recent discovery of a large natural gas field off the Israeli coast,
near Haifa, sparked an intense conflict in Lebanon between the camps of
Prime Minster Sa’d Al-Hariri and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri – an ally of
Hizbullah – over the control of Lebanon’s potential oil and natural gas
resources, which could generate enormous profits for the country.
At the same time, accusations began to be heard, especially from Hizbullah
and its political allies, that Israel is stealing Lebanon’s natural
resources and that the gas reservoir it has discovered extends into
Lebanon’s exclusive economic zone.[1] Senior officials from Hizbullah and
the opposition warned that the organization would not hesitate to use every
means, including its weapons, to defend Lebanon’s natural riches. Figures in
the March 14 Forces stated in response that Hizbullah was simply looking for
another excuse to hold on to its arms.
It should be mentioned that, following the Israeli gas discovery, Lebanon
expedited the process of appealing to the U.N. to officially demarcate its
exclusive economic zone and to delineate its maritime borders with
neighboring countries, except for Israel.[2] The presidents of Syria and
Lebanon decided on June 15, 2010 that the two countries would begin
demarking the maritime border between them even before completing the
demarcation of the land border, in order to settle the question of their
respective rights to offshore oil and gas.[3]
Who Will Lead the Legislation of Lebanon’s Natural Resources Bill?
A few days after Israel announced the discovery of an enormous gas reservoir
at the Leviathan drilling site off the Haifa coast, Lebanese Parliament
Speaker Nabih Berri launched an attack on Israel, accusing it of stealing
Lebanon’s gas and oil deposits, and of ignoring the fact that the gas
reservoir extends into Lebanese waters. Berri stressed that “the discovery
of [this] gas reservoir obligates Lebanon to act quickly in defense of its
rights,” and called on the Lebanese parliament and government to declare a
campaign of “economic resistance” in defense of the country’s natural
resources.[4]
SNIP...
http://www.geostrategy-direct.com/geostrategy-direct/secure/2010/07_14/2.asp
Hizbullah signing up Israeli Arab officers as spies, drug-smugglers
TEL AVIV - Israel’s military has acknowledged that Hizbullah was recruiting
officers through enticements of drugs and cash.
The military said Hizbullah has recruited soldiers and officers to spy on
Israel as well as to help in drug smuggling from Lebanon. In the latest
development, the military reported the arrest of a warrant officer and
several civilians charged with maintaining links to the Iranian-sponsored
Shi’ite militia.
SNIP...