LONDON, June 8 (UPI) -- A major natural gas field found off Israel stretches into Lebanese waters and could provoke further tensions between the two nations, as-Safir reported Tuesday.
The London-based Lebanese newspaper said the area, estimated to hold as much as 16 trillion cubic feet of gas, could turn Israel into a regional exporter of energy.
The area, known as the Leviathan site, is off the coast of Haifa, Israel, and extends into Lebanon's territorial waters, as-Safir reported.
If Israel attempts to siphon gas from Lebanese territory, Lebanon would be forced to defend the waters, as-Safir said in an analysis headlined "Israel preparing to steal gas fields in Lebanon's waters."
Israel has been dependent on oil and coal imported from Mexico and Norway. The reserves in the natural gas site mean Israel can fulfill its gas demand for the next two decades and may be able to ship natural gas to Europe and Asia, Ynetnews.com reported Tuesday.
Israel has given permission to Noble Energy, based in Houston, to drill at the Leviathan site this year.
