Though Hezbullah SG was very outspoken about the advantages of Lebanon mining and making billions in the next few years, he didn't say we will "attack" the Greek mining ship but rather mentioned an escalation ladder that starts with threats, "flying a UAV" near, and so on twitter.com/WithinSyriaBl…

⋯ It is highly unlikely Hezbullah will attack the mining ship because it's not Israeli, not owned by Israel, and not manned by Israelis. A more likely scenario, if a decision to confront is taken, is to create an unsafe environment where the ship's crew leave.

⋯ The Lebanese government, since the day PM Foad Siniora sold Lebanon to Cyprus & Israel, and today with Mikati and Aoun, have no taken a maximalist position that includes Lebanon's full rights and then negotiate a fair settlement. They just chose to play along with the US promises

⋯ Lebanon is in a tough situation because of what Foad Siniora did with his agreement with Cyprus and eventually Israel about Lebanon's real borders.

This is a map circa 2000 from a company that did petroleum exploration in Israel. Notice the borders based on Siniora's deal.

⋯ Legally speaking, aside from Israel being Israel, they are not breaking the law and not trespassing into Lebanese waters because Lebanon does not officially claim the border with line 29.

Lebanon didn't send a claim to the UN, because they thought US guarantees are good enough?

⋯ On the contrary if Lebanon was negotiating with an Arab state called Palestine, Lebanon would not have only asked, actually demanded, line 29, they would have asked Palestine to return some 7 villages in the north and demand a whole new maritime border demarcation.

Representative Hassan Murad is submitting a proposal for a law to amend the border, so that the 29th line will be part of Lebanon's borders.

Parties who are genuinely concerned about Lebanon's borders will have to support this law and vote in favor. twitter.com/hassanmrad/st…

🛑The Deputy Speaker of Parliament (FPM), Elias Bou Saab, contacted the Israeli-born American mediator Amos Hochstein to plan a visit Lebanon.

Amos, an ex-IDF soldier who was deployed in Lebanon during the occupation, is to play an unbiased mediatory role.

⋯ 🛑 Head of Hezbullah's polical bloc MP Muhammad Raad: Stop betting on the foreigner who is greedy for our wealth and the broker who promotes deals. Let's extract oil and gas as we want and with whomever we want whenever we want.

🛑 Israeli War Minister Benny Gantz: "The dispute with Lebanon over gas will be resolved through diplomacy with American mediation."

In the South III election district, where opposition won two seats:

- 90% of Shiites voted for Hezbullah & Amal

- 70% of non-Shiites (Sunnis, Christians, Druzes) voted in favor of the opposition.

🛑 Hezbullah Deputy SG Sheikh Qassem: "We do not give a deadline to the Lebanese state, which is above everyone else. It determines its course, and we are under the roof of the state in such decisions.

The issue requires a decisive decision from the Lebanese state."

⋯ Deputy Secretary-General of Hezbollah Sheikh Naim Qassem to Reuters:

"When the Lebanese state says that Israel is encroaching on our water and oil, we are ready to do our part in pressure and deterrence and use appropriate means, including force."

Opposition MPs: "We should accept and adhere to line 29."

Journalist: "What if Israel does not accept, should there be a military response."

Opposition MPs, with a shocked face: "What, What military response."

🚨 Initial reports of an Israeli aggression on Syria.