Lebanon has been in a declared state of war with Israel since 1948. They can draw their maritime boundaries wherever they like; good luck with the enforcement part. Israel is not a signatory to the United Nations' Convention on the Law of the Sea, therefore the United Nations has no jurisdiction in this dispute. Israel will honor the niceties -- it's very scrupulous that way -- but the natural gas belongs to Israel, and Israel alone. If Lebanon wants to share in the wealth, they will have to recognize the State of Israel first -- which, of course, they cannot do because of Hezbollah. So Lebanon is fresh out of luck. Perhaps their Arab brethren in nations which float on oil can help defray their energy costs. That's probably a non-starter, however; the Kingdom and the Gulf States that have significant petroleum reserves haven't helped Lebanon in the past and are not likely to help them in the future. Too bad for Lebanon.

A- To Sarah B, you need to get a life. B- Thank you Israel for unite the Lebanese again hahahaha.

What a laugh - Arabs ALL hate each other.

your 18 words is enough to show how ignorant. immature and quite frankly stupid you are not even to mention your horrible grammar... Im assuming you dont really know history or current affairs... Lebanon for the most part will not be united any time soon - that country has been in and out of civil wars since its birth... although i have respect for the lebanese people that i know personally that country is lost and a mess..it like cant even be considered a legit soveriegn country rather a town in the wild wild west...there just a tool used and abused by a few arab countries

order in the international waters when it is so obvious they cannot make order in their own house.

Are dominated by America. If Lebanon gets this oil, I'm sure it will be the next on their list following Libya. If Israel gets the oil, I wonder what would happen? The American gov't is addicted to oil and will get it any way they can from the Middle East. Just ask Iraq.

And how do they plan to extract the oil and gas reserves from the sea? Do katyushot work under water?

united states gets most of it's gas from our neighboor Canada, on the North AMERICAN Continent, also a stipen or so from hugo the little bearded monkey's buddie from caraccus. If Your So Proud mr lebnainai Why dont you live there?? I'll tell you Freedom is there a word is arabi LA. arab=Dictator=Corruption. Yella

In the finest Arab tradition, the Lebanese were screwing around while others took the grand prize. Inshallah!

Sarah likes to think (and tell people) Israel can ignore international law as it relates to EEZ's but she's wrong (again) . Lebanon's claims to certain area's offshore will be looked at by the UN arbitration, their rulings will have the backing of international law whether Israel has signed UNCLOS or not. That there are many co's who would jump at the chance to extract these resources (should they exist) means they wo'nt need luck.

Lebanon refuses to accept UN demarcation on land then would they accept it on the sea? The shooting this week (when even the UNFIL said Israel did not cross the boarder) shows that Lebanon can not understand a UN demarcation of an international boarder.

What is a Lebnainai? Please, use adult words when trying to prove a point. If America doesn't want to control the ME oil, then why the war in Iraq? Why get involved in Libya, but not Syria? Why support Saudia Arabia? And lastly, where and why I live where I live is none of your business and I'll leave it at that.

You missed the point by a mile. Why don't the oil-rich Arab states look after their less fortunate fellow Arabs who have no energy resources? I guess the prospect of one less Saudi prince building an opulent palace is just unacceptable. Then again, sixty-three years have passed and those despicable displaced persons camps remain in existence. The Arab people have some seriously warped values. Israel was responsible for the exploration and the discovery of the Tamar and Leviathan natural gas fields. Efforts are currently underway to determine if there is, as is suspected, a third, even larger, field. Lebanon invested in terror and drug running while Israel invested in research and exploration. Too bad for Lebanon, but you can always burn the cedar trees if the winters get a bit chilly.

You have more faith in the empty rulings of the UN than the rest of us. Actual control of those resources determines their fate. The Lebanese can run to the UN like a weak sister, but oil and gas are truly vital, and the Israelis will not surrender or share them with a blood enemy. The Israelis hold all the good cards in this offshore game.

I am amused at Arabs always claiming that the US is "stealing their oil". The West pays a high price for oil, a price set through speculation and price setting in the illegal OPEC cartel, resulting is the largest wealth transfer ever seen in the history of man. and somehow, you consider it "stealing". Enjoy your "wealth" today for when the oil runs out, so does the money, and the West's interest in sand dune nations.

Their maritime borders cannot reflect the 1949 Armistice line according the UN Armistice agreement which specifically stated the line shall not be a future border (unless both parties agree) nor retard the movement of the line one way or another in border negotiations. Lebanon cannot legally use the 1949 as a border, especially since their current state of war with Israel enforces the Armistice agreement regarding borders. Israel used the 1923 border created between France and Britain, which has not been contested by the Lebanese. Infact, Lebanon didn't contest it at all until gas was found. Lebanon set a border with Cyprus which in turn sets a border with Israel. By UN charter, Israel had to quickly set borders or else Lebanon's actions would be viewed as uncontested by Israel. The last paragraph puts the entire gamut of Lebanese activities into focus - "zone consists of about 854 square kilometres (330 square miles), and important energy reserves there could generate billions of dollars." All that revenue is they can just squeeze a few kilometers of border from Israel by threatening to light up the ME.

because we all know where any energy wealth would be going...and its not the Druze and Christian communities. What you claim Israel is doing by uniting Lebanese, Hizbullah is destroying by the latest indictments handed by the STL.

why are so many of them disproportionately Arab, including in North Africa....and now Muslims (Arabs) in Northern Nigeria want a taste of the oil wealth that Christian South Nigeria has/

You claim Sarah is wrong. Ok, what is your proof or expertise in providing the opinion that the UN can dictate a border (against its own charter) and a non-signatory to the UNCLOS will have to abide? I am not saying you're right or wrong. I'm asking if this is your personal opinion or if you have experience in maritime border litigation? Sarah has had experience in maritime issues, just FYI.

really??? but those same companies that, according to you, would jump at the opportunity to excavate in lebanese waters, ALREADY CONTRACTED WITH ISRAEL IN THE FIRST PLACE, YOU MORON. THE RESEARCH AND DRILLING WAS DONE. THEY ARE READY TO GO???? why would any of these companies invest a single cent in lebanon waters starting from scratch if they already invested all the capital for research with israel and found immense sources of oil and natural gas. the research has already been done and those companies you are talking about jumped on the israeli band wagon. also, ISRAEL IS A SAFER INVESTMENT, INVESITNG WITH ISRAEL IS MUCH SAFER FOR ALL OR MOST COMPANIES BECAUSE IT IS A STABLE DEMOCRACY, A RICH COUNTRY, A DEVELOPED FANTASTIC INFRASTRUCTURE, ETC... AND WITH A LOT OF BRAIN POWER.... SOMETHING LEBANON IS NOT! lebanon is not safe to invest in because of civil unrest between hizbullah, it is not a sovreign state but a puppet and companies you are talking about think and fear they stand to loose lots of billions in investing in a society and country such as yours. you don't even control yourselves. iran syria and hizbullah control you. no one that is smart would ever invest in a powder keg like lebanon. also, while israel has the technical brains to explore this natural resource and built infrastructure or this, lebanon has zero. no wonder they want someone else's discovery...it is called stealing. hameed aboughaze, iranian

I agree with you Cameron. However we must look for ways to protect our oil and gas installations because Hezbollah's missiles are waiting in the wings...

Without prior approval of Hezbollah...

lebanon was israel and should be together. lebanon was a resort for the jewish people. lebanon should be part of israel.

Israel or Iran ?.all the riches of Lebanon belong to Iran,by order of the great Tsar Haminai.

What are you proud about ?.and ignorant too,the stupid US spent a Trillion Dollars to free Iraq from sadam,and the ungreatful iraqis instead of starting to pay back to the US,are selling their oil to China.

What are you proud about ?.Don't leave it at that,just leave Canada and go back to Hezbulistan,and take with you your terrorist friends,you'll never take over Canada,the Chinese in Canada will stop you and expel you,yalla.

You mean without approval of Tsar Haminei, ruler of Iran and Lebanon.

Stick to driving your taxi in Ottawa as it is obvious that maritime boundary law is something you clearly don't understand. Israel is following the 1923 demarcation line established by the UK and France. Maritime law also states that any natural resources are the property of the nation that discovers them and develops the infrastructure. In typical Arab fashion the Lebanese sat back and waited till somebody else (Israel) funded all the exploration and then once the gas was discovered came forth with a sudden claim. I am sure that their fellow Arabs in the oil rich gulf would be happy to share their resources with their Lebanese brothers.

I know you know that the post at No. 21 is not mine. I know you know that the only sentiment I have towards Hezbollah is utter contempt. Afraid of Hezbollah's missiles? Yeah, right. Israel can turn Lebanon into a glowing cinder in a heartbeat. We are not exactly fearful. The punctuation in that post is hardly reminiscent of mine. I actually know how to use it .... the imposter at No. 21, alas for him or her, does not.

"Prior approval?" They live thirty feet underground. We do not need their -- or anyone else's, for that matter -- "prior approval." Much loose talk out of Lebanon, and Israel has a new northern border. Tripoli. No more issue, get it? Who is going to stop us? Not the Lebanese, that's for sure. No one else, either. Interfere with Israel's operations in extracting its natural gas and any oil reserves and Israel will inflict a degree of pain upon the party that attempts to interfere that will make what Israel did to the Arabs in the Six Day War pale by comparison. Trust me. In case anyone's forgotten, we kicked their asses to the curb in very short order. Please do remember that it was a three-front war. By contrast, NATO, with all its resources, cannot even handle a war on one front.