The Israeli navy is to present a plan for the defense of offshore gas fields that hold the prospect of greatly reducing the Jewish state's energy dependency, the mass-selling Yediot Aharonot newspaper reported Sunday.

Citing a senior military official, the newspaper said that the plan, which will require government approval, will have an initial price-tag of $40-70 million and will be presented at the end of the month.

Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir on Sunday wished Premier-designate Najib Miqati success in forming the government and stressed support for the liberation of land within Lebanon’s natural boundaries.

“We wish him (Miqati) success and congratulate anyone who has been tasked with forming the new cabinet,” Sfeir said at Rafik Hariri international airport before heading to Rome to participate in the unveiling of the statue of Saint Maroun in Saint Peter’s square.

March 14 general-secretariat coordinator Fares Soaid said Sunday that the coalition will organize a “peaceful and democratic protest” in support of the international tribunal on the sixth anniversary of the March 14 Cedar Revolution.

The protest will take place in all Lebanese regions and will bear the slogan of the protection of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and rejection of coexistence between weapons and the state, Soaid told Voice of Lebanon radio station.

Premier-designate Najib Miqati’s nephew is reportedly in Washington in an attempt to garner the support of the Obama administration for the billionaire businessman’s future government.

Informed sources told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat in remarks published Sunday that Azmi Taha Miqati is discussing with low-ranking U.S. officials ways to garner support for the new cabinet.

The March 14 forces have reportedly preconditioned their participation in the cabinet on the inclusion in the policy statement of articles stressing Lebanon’s commitment to the international tribunal and preserving political life from arms.

Informed March 14 forces told An Nahar daily in remarks published Sunday that the coalition is insisting on including two articles that stress the country’s “commitment to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the protection of political life from the predominance of weapons.”

Caretaker Labor Minister Butros Harb noted on Saturday that the government formation is not only facing obstacles from the March 14 camp, but also “greater ones” from the March 8 camp.

He noted after meeting with United Nations Relief and Works Agency Commissioner-General Filippo Grandi: “The greater problem lies between Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati and President Michel Suleiman and between the forces that nominated the premier-designate to his position.”

Caretaker Minister of Economy and Trade Mohammed Safadi stated on Saturday that he voted for Najib Miqati for the premiership out of Lebanon’s interest and the safety of its people.

He said before his visitors in Tripoli: “I voted for him and stand by him over his desire to maintain Lebanon and its democratic system, as well as his keenness to bolster Tripoli’s position in the country.”

Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Nawwaf Moussawi stressed on Saturday that change was achieved on the Lebanese political scene through strong will and “brave political leaderships that are being accused of treason.”

“These leaders are responding to accusations of treason with courage in confronting American security, political, and economic threats,” he said.

Expert church circles revealed that the closed-door scheduled between Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir and Pope Benedict XVI in Rome will represent a suitable opportunity to discuss the former’s resignation.

They told As Safir newspaper in remarks published on Saturday that the resignation is expected to be finalized in early March.

Caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Shami requested on Friday from United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that a “maritime security line similar to the Blue Line in southern Lebanon be demarcated in the country’s regional waters.”

He said in a letter to the U.N. official that the demarcation would fall under the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon’s role in designating the land border.