Lebanese minister expands claim in sea dispute with Israel

BEIRUT (Reuters) – A senior cabinet minister said on Monday he had signed a document expanding Lebanon’s claims in a row with Israel over their maritime border that has held up hydrocarbon exploration in the potentially gas-rich area.

The amendment would add around 1,400 sq. km. to the exclusive economic zone claimed by Lebanon in its original submission to the United Nations.

Negotiations between old foes Lebanon and Israel were launched in October to try to resolve the dispute. The talks, a culmination of three years of diplomacy by the United States, have since stalled.

The document signed by the caretaker public works and transportation minister now needs to be signed off by the caretaker prime minister, defense minister and president ahead of a request to the

United Nations for a formal claim to register the new coordinates for the maritime zone.

“I expect it will be signed as everyone, the defense minister and the prime minister and the president, are concerned about this,” acting Public Works and Transportation Minister Michel Najjar told a news conference.

Israel already pumps gas from huge offshore fields but Lebanon has yet to find commercial gas reserves in its own waters.

Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said Lebanon’s latest move would derail the talks rather than help work towards a common solution.

“Unilateral Lebanese measures will, of course, be answered with parallel measures by Israel,” he said in a statement.