Gantz Warns Lebanon Will Pay Price If Hezbollah Disrupts Maritime Talks

By Hamodia Staff

YERUSHALAYIM — Defense Minister Benny Gantz on Thursday sharpened the warnings to Hezbollah not to interfere with the Israel-Lebanon talks that are reportedly nearing a settlement of the dispute over offshore gas fields.

If Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah wants to disrupt the talks, “he’s welcome to do so, but the price will be Lebanon,” Gantz said during a conference at Herzliya’s Reichman University.

“All of Israel’s security theaters are active and sensitive. Something could happen tomorrow in any one of them,” Gantz said.

“Israel is ready to reach a deal that will assist both countries economically and energy-wise. I believe there will be two gas rigs in the sea, one on the Israeli side and one on the Lebanese side,” he said.

“We will protect our gas rig regardless,” Gantz added, referring to specific threats aimed by the terror group at the Israeli operations in the Karish field, part of which Lebanon claims for its territory. Hezbollah launched four unarmed drones at the Karish field in July and said there will be further attacks if Israel proceeds with gas extraction in the disputed area. No damage was done in the July incident.

Speaking earlier at the same conference, National Security Adviser Eyal Hulata said Nasrallah was using the maritime issue as “an excuse” to make threats.

“Israel wants a stable Lebanon. We want to weaken Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanon. That is why we are trying to advance the negotiations on the maritime border. This is beneficial for security stability and the Lebanese economy,” Hulata said.