Berri calls for amending Decree 6433 if Hochstein doesn't act 'to stop Israeli violations'
[AnNahar] Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has urged U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein to visit Lebanon and to take the necessary measures to stop the Israeli violations, after a gas drilling ship crossed the so-called Line 29 and entered a sea area disputed by Lebanon.
Berri stressed, in a press interview, that Lebanon will not tolerate the Israeli violations.
"If Hochstein does not respond and if no results are reached, then Cabinet must convene to take a national unanimous decision to amend Decree 6433 and send it to the United Nations," Berri said.
The Decree 6433 is based on a 2009 delineation undertaken by the Lebanese army. An assessment of the 2009 demarcation by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) proposed two potential lines that would add 300 or 1,430 square kilometers to the old 2009 demarcation. The second line is known as Line 29.
Bayram says Hizbullah practicing 'positive silence' in offshore gas row
[AnNahar] Caretaker Labor Minister Mustafa Bayram on Monday announced that Hizbullah is practicing “positive silence” regarding the Lebanon-Israel row over offshore gas drilling.
“The resistance is practicing positive silence and the Lebanese stance must remain firm,” Bayram, who is close to Hizbullah, told al-Jadeed TV.
“President (Michel) Aoun knows very well how to act in these situations and he has the sufficient wisdom,” Bayram added, describing the stances of Aoun and caretaker PM Najib Miqati as “advanced.”
“The resistance does not want to impose the war and peace decision; it is the enemy that is rather imposing it and the resistance will act according to the state’s decision and orientations,” Bayram went on to say.
“We don’t want war and we don’t wish for it, but as Lebanese we have all agreed that we have maritime rights and resources and the drums of war would beat according to the Israeli enemy’s actions,” the minister added, noting that “Lebanon possesses a very strong card that says that the enemy cannot extract its oil as long as we haven’t done the same.”
As for Washington’s mediation, Bayram said his party “does not trust American mediations,” because “they have always been in Israel’s favor.”
The minister also noted that Hizbullah has learned that Aoun “has asked the Army Command to clarify where the Greek ship will be positioned in order to act accordingly.”
The remarks come after media reports said Sunday that the Greek-owned Energean Power FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading unit) had crossed the so-called offshore Line 29 that is disputed by Lebanon.
Aoun, Miqati want US mediation after Israel gas ship move
[AnNahar] President Michel Aoun and Caretaker PM Najib Miqati agreed on Monday to invite U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein to visit Beirut in order to resume the stalled negotiations over the maritime demarcation with Israel, the Presidency said.
The two leaders agreed that the demarcation must be completed "as soon as possible in order to avoid any escalation," after a gas drilling ship had entered a disputed sea area, sparking Lebanese condemnation.
Aoun and Miqati also decided to make diplomatic calls with the major world powers and the United Nations to explain Lebanon's adherence to its rights and maritime resources.
"Any gas drilling carried out by Israel in a disputed area is considered a provocative and hostile activity, threatening peace and obstructing the demarcation negotiations led by the U.S.," the statement said.
After the Presidency's statement, Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab contacted Hochstein to schedule a visit, media reports said. 
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