The Oil Exploration Crisis and Israel’s Threat to Blow Back Lebanon to ‘Stone Age’

The Israeli Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz last week warned that it would blow Lebanon back to “the Stone Age” and maybe even to “the age of cavemen". Katz was reiterating the position of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said on a visit to Moscow that Israel will not remain idle as Iran expands its footprints in Lebanon and Syria, and will do whatever is necessary to prevent this.

Lebanon had recently issued contracts to three foreign firms- France’s Total Sa, Italy’s Eni SpA and Russia’s Novatek PJSC- for the exploration of gas near its maritime border with Israel. Israel claims that the oil field- Block 9 - falls under its maritime jurisdiction and this has led to increased tension between the two countries. The far-right Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said: “When they [Lebanon] issue a tender on a gas field, including Block 9, which by any standard is ours ... this is very, very challenging and provocative conduct here.”

Referring to the 2006 Israeli invasion of Lebanon targeting Hezbollah, which killed hundreds of Lebanese civilians,

Lieberman warned Lebanon, “there won’t be pictures like the ones from the Second Lebanon War showing people on the beach in Beirut while Tel Aviv residents sat in bomb shelters. This won’t happen". “If people in Tel Aviv are in bomb shelters, then they will also be in shelters in Beirut. This has to be clear to the other side," he added.

The 34-day military conflict had continued until a ceasefire was brokered by United Nations. Previously Israel had invaded Lebanon first time during the 15-year Lebanese civil war. In both cases, Hezbollah led the local resistance against Israel, which ultimately withdrew.

According to reports, Israeli Defense Force (IDF) is gearing up for various war excises. IDF is going to perform one of its largest military drills since 2012 in mid-2018, which will comprise of a full brigade of paratroopers. The exercise, to counter Iran in its neighbourhood, is expected to take place in the Southern part of the country, near Gaza.

Last year in November, Israel and Saudi Arabia officials declared a military alliance to share intelligence to counter Iran and Hezbollah in the region.

Meanwhile, Lebanese President Michel Aoun warned Israel against military adventurism. He emphasized that Lebanon will counter these Israeli claims [maritime dispute] by diplomatic means, but will thwart any attack on its sovereignty and territorial integrity with all the available means.