IDF on Standby as Israeli Defense Minister Gantz Warns of Possible Escalation With Lebanon
- IDF on Standby as Israeli Defense Minister Gantz Warns of Possible Escalation With Lebanon
by https://sputniknews.com/
Earlier in the day, Israel said that it would reject Lebanon’s amendments to a US-brokered proposal on resolving a long-running maritime border dispute over gas-rich waters off the countries’ Mediterranean coasts.
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The IDF has been put on standby in the north after Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz warned of a possible escalation with Lebanon, as talks on a maritime border deal have apparently fallen through.
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“The Defense Minister directed the IDF to prepare for a scenario of escalation in the north, both offensively and defensively, given the developments in the negotiations on the maritime border,” a statement from Gantz’s office said.
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The defense minister held a situational assessment with the IDF chief of staff and other security officials after Israeli authorities announced on Thursday they would not accept Lebanese modifications to a US-drafted maritime border deal.
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Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid rejected Lebanon’s requested amendments to the proposed agreement, according to local media reports. Over the weekend, Amos Hochstein, the Joe Biden administration’s energy envoy, presented what was seen as the final proposal aimed at addressing Israel and Lebanon’s competing claims over offshore gas fields in the Mediterranean Sea. The proposal initially seemed to have been welcomed by both sides, however, on Tuesday Beirut sent Washington its remarks on the draft deal. No official details were provided on the contents of the Lebanese position.
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The following day, an unnamed Western diplomat told Walla news that “Lebanon’s comments on the draft deal are constructive and do not include ‘poison pills’ that could prevent an agreement.”
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