Lebanese President Michel Aoun said that he is awaiting the outcome of contacts conducted by Washington to determine the course of negotiations to demarcate the maritime borders with Israel, while the Israeli media reported that the test of pumping gas from the Karish field would begin two days later, coinciding with a military alert.

During a meeting with the Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League, Hossam Zaki - in Beirut today, Friday - Aoun said that Lebanon is awaiting the outcome of the contacts made by the American mediator, Amos Hochstein with the Israelis, to determine the course of the indirect negotiations to demarcate the southern maritime border.

In another matter, Aoun stressed that the absolute priority must be at the present time to elect a new president of the republic, because the president's presence is essential for forming a new government and not the other way around, according to a statement by the presidency.

For his part, Zaki said that the Arab League supports and supports Lebanon's rights to its lands and waters and stands by its side, and is ready for all that is requested of it in all its entitlements, but talking about an Arab initiative may be premature.

The Assistant Secretary-General of the League stressed the importance of electing a new president for Lebanon, and the need for everyone to cooperate to achieve this goal.

Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ambassador Hossam Zaki from Baabda: The League of Arab States is present for all that is requested of it and is present with Lebanon in all its entitlements, but talking about an Arab initiative may be early pic.twitter.com/jQhoA9VwyQ

— Lebanese Presidency (@LBpresidency) October 7, 2022

The Israeli response

On the other hand, the newspaper "Israel Today" said that the authorities will start next Sunday the process of testing pumping gas from the Karish field, which is disputed with Lebanon in the Mediterranean.

Tel Aviv had announced its rejection of the Lebanese amendments to Washington's draft demarcation of the maritime border with Lebanon, and an Israeli source indicated that the agreement might be breathing its last.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz instructed the IDF to prepare for the possibility of an escalation on the northern border with Lebanon.

Last week, the occupation army conducted maneuvers simulating the defense of the Karish field, and the response to a possible attack by drones.

Yesterday, the official Israeli Broadcasting Corporation quoted a political source as saying that Prime Minister Yair Lapid rejected Lebanon's comments on the text of the draft agreement on the maritime borders presented by the American mediator last week.

And the political source added, "Lapid made it clear that Israel will not compromise its security and economic interests in any way, even if this means that no agreement will be reached soon."

This was preceded by the Lebanese presidency’s announcement in a statement that Beirut’s comments on a draft border demarcation agreement guarantee its rights to explore for oil and natural gas, and that the remarks prevent any interpretations that do not apply to the framework set by Lebanon for the demarcation process during the months-long negotiations.

Lebanon and Israel are quarreling over a sea rich in oil and gas in the Mediterranean, with an area of ​​860 square kilometers, and Washington is mediating indirect negotiations between them to settle the dispute and demarcate the border.


Hizb allah

For his part, Ali Damoush, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council of the Lebanese Hezbollah, announced during the Friday sermon that the threats launched by Israel against Lebanon yesterday are worthless, and that they afflicted the Zionist settlers in the north in a state of terror and hysteria, as he described it.

He added, "The enemy today is afraid, confused, and confused, and we are in a position of strength, because we are the owners of the right, and the right does not die as long as there are demands behind it, so how about if there is resistance behind it."

Israel had announced that it had spotted a number of Hezbollah drones over the Karish platform at the beginning of last July.