Israel says gas rig 'entirely in undisputed territory'

The Israeli energy ministry claimed on Monday that an oil rig had arrived Sunday to an “entirely undisputed territory” in Karish, after a five-week sail from Singapore.

“It’s not even (above) the southern line that Lebanon submitted to the United Nations. Even according to the United Nations, it’s not in Lebanon,” Israel’s Energy Minister Karine Elharrar said, in an interview.

President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Najib Miqati agreed Monday to invite U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein to return to Beirut as soon as possible to work out an agreement amid the rising tensions along the border.

Elharrar also called on Lebanon to return to indirect negotiations. She added that the Israeli defense ministry is taking the necessary steps to protect the rig, without elaborating further.

Elharrar also told the 103FM radio station that the Lebanese allegations were "very far from reality" and that "all the relevant forces are involved, and I recommend not trying to surprise Israel." But she said the likelihood of conflict was small.

Satellite images on Sunday from Planet Labs PBC analyzed by The Associated Press showed the Marshall Islands-flagged Energean Power floating production storage and offloading vessel in the Karish field area of the Mediterranean Sea. Nearby was the Bahamas-flagged platform Arendal Spirit. Ship tracking data from the two vessels analyzed by the AP also confirmed the vessels' presence in the area.

A report by Kan news had said that the Israeli navy military is preparing to prevent a possible attack by Hizbullah on the drilling platform and that navy vessels and a naval version of the Iron Dome missile defense system will arrive in the area to protect it.

The Karish field, according to the Israeli energy ministry, is projected to provide half of Israel’s demand for natural gas and will allow greater exports to neighboring Egypt and Jordan.