Nasrallah: Using gas to play with fire

Israel and Lebanon are entering one of the most strained periods they have experienced since the Second Lebanon War in 2006 over the location of Israel’s Karish gas rig, close to Lebanon in the Mediterranean Sea. Directing the conflict against Israel is Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shiite terrorist group backed by Iran. Hezbollah has both a military wing and a political wing and has been elected to the Lebanese Parliament.

Israel has learned to take her enemy’s threats seriously and Hezbollah is talking about the possibility of war. In an interview with 103 FM Radio on Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz (National Unity) said: "This could lead to a reaction, to a day of battle that could develop into several days of battle. It could lead to a military operation." The Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Energy, the IDF, and the Knesset have remained silent regarding Nasrallah’s threat.

In early September, Energian, the company managing the drilling, is slated to begin operation of the Karish rig. Nasrallah is threatening to damage the rig if pumping begins without an agreement between Israel and Lebanon on the boundaries of the territorial waters of the two countries. READ MORE