Jafar Qannadbashi told the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations on the importance of differences between Lebanon and the Zionist regime over oil and gas resources that Lebanon is a small country in the Middle East, located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. This country is one of the countries that, although was able to prosper in the field of trade at times during the past three decades, it is currently facing the most economic problems among the Arab countries due to the lack of foreign exchange earnings. Therefore, finding gas resources on the shores of this country in the Mediterranean Sea is considered the only hope of the Lebanese to overcome this economic crisis. In addition, Lebanon can use these resources for domestic use in terms of energy needs

Regarding the beginning of the disputes between the Zionist regime and Lebanon regarding the gas resources of Karish gas field, he explained that “Previously, in the negotiations to draw the maritime borders between the Zionist regime and Lebanon, differences had started between the two sides, because in this field there is no significant action that can determine the borders The sea was not established on both sides, and there were continuous problems in the field of shipping and the passage of ships belonging to Lebanon and the Zionist regime.

Referring to the occurrence of these differences, he said: “Therefore, negotiations between the parties began about two years ago through an American mediator, who was tasked as a mediator to draw the relevant borders with the help of experts.”

Qannadbashi added that according to what the Lebanese authorities say, this American mediator has not used the necessary speed in completing his duties. It was in such a situation that the issue of gas resources and determining the percentage of its ownership by Lebanon and the Zionist regime was raised as a new issue; Abundant gas resources can have an important place in the energy markets due to the war in Ukraine and the strong need of Europe.

In relation to the Zionist regime’s failures in this regard, this expert also said that “The Zionists, that have a strategic view of the gas resources of Karish gas field in order to increase their share in the global gas market, tried from the beginning to ignore Lebanon’s share of these gas resources and extract it exclusively and postpone the issues related to the drawing of maritime boundaries until after their usurping presence. Of course, another proposal that the Zionists put forward in the process of indirect negotiations between Lebanon and the Zionist regime was to replace these sources with gas sources located in the Qana region near the borders between Lebanon and occupied Palestine.

According to this expert, in this situation, Lebanon’s Hezbollah openly took a stand against Lebanon’s ownership of the so-called Karish gas resources located on the shores of this country in the Mediterranean, and considered the movements of the Zionists around these gas resources through the deployment of ships belonging to a Zionist company, as illegal and in conflict with the interests of Lebanon. A position that even some media referred to as Lebanon’s Hezbollah’s preparation for military intervention with the aim of dissuading the Zionist regime from usurping these resources.

He pointed out that Lebanon’s Hezbollah considered the right of the Lebanese government to negotiate these resources and make decisions about it, adding that”Hezbollah refused to enter the arena of these negotiations. However, the Secretary General of Lebanon’s Hezbollah has repeatedly emphasized that Hezbollah is ready to defend Lebanon’s interests with full authority and dissuade the Zionist regime from continuing its usurping activities if the Zionist regime refuses to stop its actions in the gas field and continue its instigations in this area.”

The expert on Middle East issues emphasized that recently the negotiations between the parties gained speed with the mediation of the Americans and the American side spoke about the rights of the Lebanese in these negotiations. He added that “This is while in the media there is a possibility of a new war between Lebanon’s Hezbollah. And the Zionist regime came up, and it even caused the heads of European countries, such as French President Emmanuel Macron, to speak about their concern about the outbreak of a new war in the region.”

Qannadbashi added that now the differences between Lebanon and the Zionist regime over these important gas sources are in the bright shadow of concerns and hopes regarding how to resolve these differences; Of course, it is said that the authorities of the Zionist regime, in response to the firm position of the Lebanese Hezbollah, announced their agreement with the requests of this country; This can be a sign of reducing tension in the process of these disputes.