As-Safir: Israel prepares for ‘oil assault’ on Lebanon

While the state has gone on holiday with the departure of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and a substantial number of deputies and ministers who are on private family trips, the agenda of the new government will need to deal with a number of issues, including gas exploration off the coast of Lebanon and preparations for new agreements that prevent Israel from violating the rights of Lebanon in this regards.

In this context, prominent and hurried preparations by the Israelis to determine their maritime borders and grab international recognition for it have surfaced. This move by the Israelis is likely to be the first on the agenda of the Lebanese government in order to protect the country’s borders and rights.

Israel will tomorrow agree on its economic and maritime borders, and this after Lebanon officially launched efforts to give concessions to foreign companies to extract oil and gas in its economic and maritime borders.

“This is a technical issue,” Energy and Water Minister Jibran Bassil told As-Safir. “The issue falls under international law and we hope that all parties are aware of their interests in order to secure the necessary stability for large investments of this kind because Lebanon will not back down, neither on its oil rights, nor on its maritime borders.”

Asked about any possible breaches by Israel, Bassil said: “We will prevent this, and the ones who are harmed are not just Israel but the companies that will cooperate with it in this matter. We in Lebanon respect the rights of others and we do not want to violate the rights of others, but at the same time we will refuse anyone violating our rights. We shall follow up on this matter, knowing that this is an important article in the ministerial statement of the government.”

“It is not in anyone’s interests that a fight should begin. I say that Israel would be playing with fire if it breached Lebanon maritime borders and its oil rights and would be in front of a big problem, especially given that Lebanon cannot give up its maritime borders and oil rights.”

Al-Mustaqbal: March 14: No use in any dialogue under hegemony of weapons

Big questions linger on the road-map of the new government, its path and objectives, especially after negative international signs on the government and its intentions.

Former prime minister Saad Hariri will make an appearance on the Lebanese television station MTV Tuesday and will discuss the latest developments.

The first international reactions to the government were not positive: the EU raising its concerns on the lack of committment by the government to the STL, and then later France vocing similar concerns.

Future Movement MP Ahmad Fatfat told Al-Mustaqbal that “what we saw during the confidence vote sessions [in Parliament] showed the end to the sanctity of weapons and Hezbollah today is accused.”

““Hezbollah used its weapons aimed at a political coup in the country,” Fatfat said.

“The problem today is with the weapons because Hezbollah is ruling the country by the force of its weapons. Given this, there is not point to the elections and the government has no value because this party [Hezbollah] has a political program and wants to take over the country gradually.”

Future Movement MP Ammar Houri said: “The March 14 forces will develop a way of working with the results of the coup,” adding: “We possess no other means than democratic ones and we will use the street when there is a need for it but within the law, unlike the other side which used the street in an unlawful manner.”

Al-Joumhouria: Most expect a regional dialogue and the opposition is waiting for Hariri

The “warriors” are resting after their tiresome meeting, and they’re now preparing for the next phase. There remains the Syrian front, which saw dramatic developments on the ground Friday, when the regime of President Bashar Assad claimed the lives of 16 and left more than 40 wounded, as the U.S. and French ambassadors visited the city of Hama, which has become the center of Syria’s protest movement. Will this be the new Banghazi?

In Lebanon, the week closed with the political heat wave that has been gripping the country. Mikati entered the Grand Serail, hoping to turn the page on the past and open a new page of cooperation, to compensate for the past several months.

Analysts believe that Mikati will need 6 months to a year to get results. The Cabinet will meet next Thursday.

Mikati and his colleagues are waiting to distribute the agenda for the first session of the government, which spearheaded the extension of Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh and the new director general of General Security and the new head of the Lebanese Army. He said the extension suggests confidence in the economy.

He also said that if the Syrian crisis continues this could affect the internal situation in Lebanon. Mikati said he welcomed regional dialogue, which he said would lead to better stability in Lebanon. The prime minister described this as a waiting phase, and doesn’t see any immediate threats on the horizon.

According to some reports, Western countries are worried by the vague wording of the ministerial statement, particularly in light of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, and they will be monitoring the new government closely.