Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, on Monday chaired a meeting by the “Development and Liberation” Parliamentary bloc, during which he discussed the political situation with bloc members, most importantly the recent flagrant Israeli breach of Lebanon’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

A statement read by the bloc’s Secretary General, Anwar Khalil, in the wake of the meeting said that on 26/11/2019, a hydrographic survey ship arriving from Haifa port of the Israeli enemy carrying the flag of “Panama”, docked on the UN naval operations site. On 27/11/2019 at 13:19, the enemy vessel entered the Lebanese exclusive economic zone at a distance of five miles and remained in block 9 until 20:37 - a period of seven hours and eighteen minutes. 

“The infiltration of the vessel to conduct scientific research for the benefit of the Israeli enemy is considered a violation of Articles 56 and 60 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” MP Khalil said.

Moreover, the bloc’s statement criticized the United Nations naval force for failing to implement the required procedures that necessitate summoning the ship and inquiring about the intent of its presence; it also condemned this heinous attack and asked of the United Nations to assume its responsibilities in this regard.

Bloc members finally called for accelerating the formation of a government and responding to the positive international atmosphere by preparing for aid and support. Meanwhile, it also asked of the caretaking cabinet to assume its responsibilities and focus on the management of living conditions, food security, and the financial and economic situation.