Peace doves only have a small fragile twig in their beak.

Israel and Lebanon: An interjection

We could accept it as a historic agreement, as Lebanon and Israel have officially been at war for decades. Now, after years of negotiations, the two states have contractually agreed on a common maritime border. With the mediation of the USA, they have also agreed on the extraction of gas deposits in the Mediterranean.

Even if it was primarily of commercial interest, this economic agreement has a political dimension. Lebanon, including the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia, has effectively recognised the state of Israel. This will have major geopolitical repercussions. The issue of the maritime border has existed since the state of Israel was founded. But the Ukraine war has given natural gas - and we are talking about deposits in the Karish gas field off Israel - a new significance in the region. An agreement was needed for its utilisation.

It was the hope for a multiple-win situation: Israel and Lebanon both benefit from natural gas, and for the West - including Germany, of course - it alleviates the current energy price crisis. The devastated country of Lebanon would now also have found a new path. It may not yet be a peace treaty, but it is a hope. Finally, reason, peace, prosperity and understanding instead of blind religious hatred. And now this: former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that he will "neutralise" the agreement if he wins the elections. Netanyahu's election victory yesterday therefore makes the future of the two offshore gas fields very volatile.

On 13 June 2021, the corvette Braunschweig departed from the Hohe Düne naval base for the UNIFIL mission.

As part of the agreement, the Biden administration has given written security guarantees to the government of Israel, pledging American support in the event that Lebanon or the powerful Hezbollah violates the agreement. The letter also pledges to support efforts to prevent the Lebanese side's gains from falling into the hands of Hezbollah. Netanyahu's Likud party vehemently rejects the border agreement and has labelled it a "capitulation" to Hezbollah.

We will have to wait and see what Western politicians will say to Netanyahu, who is once again making inaugural visits and has been accused of corruption. What he intends to do is not good for peace, not good in the Ukraine war and not good at all for German-Israeli relations, because it will have to be discussed with him. Reason of state or not.