Article Author:
Associated Press
Bassem Mroue
BEIRUT (AP) — The leader of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group on Tuesday issued a warning to arch-enemy Israel over a maritime border dispute between the two countries, saying: said like "Any arm" reaching out to steal Lebanese wealth will be "cut off."
Hassan Nasrallah's remarks strengthened US efforts to resolve his decade-plus maritime border dispute between Israel and Lebanon, which have been officially at war since the founding of Israel in 1948. It was done while
Both countries claim about 860 square kilometers (330 square miles) of the Mediterranean Sea. Lebanon also claims the Kalish gas field is in a disputed area under ongoing maritime border negotiations, while Israel claims it is within the internationally recognized economic zone.
Amos Hochstein, the US State Department's senior adviser for energy security and dispute mediator, met with Lebanese officials last week. After the meeting, he said the two sides were close to reaching a controversial deal.
Hochstein was later reported to have visited Israel and is expected to return to Beirut within the next few weeks, along with Israel's response to Lebanon's request.
Israel and Hezbollah are bitter enemies who waged a month-long war in the summer of 2006. Israel considers Iran-backed Shia militant groups its most serious and imminent threat, and estimates that Hezbollah has launched about 150,000 rockets and missiles towards Israel.
In a speech as tens of thousands attended a rally in southern Beirut to mark Ashora, Nasrallah said Lebanon "needs to be prepared for any possibility."
"I do not accept the idea that our wealth is stolen," said Nasrallah.
Ashora is one of the most important days in the Shiite religious calendar, commemorating his seventh-century martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson Hussein.
Lebanon desperately needs an agreement on a Mediterranean maritime border as it wants to tap offshore gas reserves to mitigate what has become the worst economic crisis in modern history. there is
Last month, Israeli forces shot down three of his unarmed Hezbollah drones that were flying over Kalish Field. Lebanon's prime minister at the time, Najib Mikati, criticized Hezbollah and said the move could pose a risk to the country.Hezbollah later aired drone footage showing Israeli ships in the area. did.
"Neither Lebanese nor Lebanese people should be wronged," said Nasrallah. "Any arm that tries to reach out to this (Lebanese) wealth will be cut off."
He warned Israel not to target Palestinian officials in Lebanon amid a ceasefire that ended violent fighting. The Islamic Jihad Group is an ally of Hezbollah, along with the much larger Hamas militant group that runs Gaza.
