Israel-Lebanon Offshore Oil & Gas Dispute – Rules of International Maritime Law
By Martin Wählisch
IntroductionTensions between Lebanon and Israel have been running high during the last months due to a legal dispute over rights to newly discovered natural oil and gas reserves in the Mediterranean Sea. Formally at war for years, and without diplomatic relations, Israel and Lebanon have never agreed on a delimitation of their maritime boundaries.
Rising Conflict Between Israel and Lebanon
“There is no doubt these resources are a strategic objective that Israel’s enemies will try to undermine, and I have decided that Israel will defend its resources,” vowed Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in January 2011.[1] “We will not hesitate to use our force and strength to protect not only the rule of law but the international maritime law,” stressed Israel’s Minister of National Infrastructures, Uzi Landau, earlier.[2] The rhetoric culminated in Israel’s July 2011 unilateral proposal of its northern maritime boundaries with Lebanon and Cyprus.[3] To protect the offshore gas fields, the Israeli Navy is maintaining a twenty-four hour presence over the site using drones.[4]
