Israeli–Lebanese conflict

The Israeli partners in the Leviathan gas field said on Dec. 12 they approved a development plan for the field with a target production date for the end of 2019.

The plan, the group said in a statement to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, includes a first stage development for production of about 12 billion cubic meters (bcm) a year at a cost of $3.5-4 billion.

The only route big enough for Israel's gas exportation is a country like Turkey which is capable of providing infrastructure and further exportation to the West, Shai Cohen, the Consul-General of Israel in Istanbul has said.        

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has found Turkey guilty of violating the right to life of a local politician who was shot dead outside of a café in the Yüre?ir district of southern Adana province some 22 years ago. Turkey is set to pay 20,000 euros in non-pecuniary damages to the victim's wife, in addition to 3,000 euros to cover the family's costs and expenses.

A top Israeli military leader on April 20 issued a stern warning to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, saying any future war between the two enemies will unleash "devastating" damage on Lebanon.
     

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on April 17 that Israel would never relinquish the Golan Heights, in a signal to Russia and the United States that the strategic plateau should be excluded from any deal on Syria's future. 

Israel has launched dozens of strikes in Syria, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on April 11, acknowledging for the first time such attacks against suspected arms transfers to Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas. 

According to the Russian Air force Commander in Chief, Colonel Viktor Bondarev the withdrawal of the largest part of Russian forces from Syria will be completed within the next two to three days. Speaking to Russian newspaper ‘Kosmomolskaya Pravda’. Israel has asked for reassurances from Russia that its withdrawal will not strengthen Hezbollah and Shiite paramilitary groups in Syria.

Gulf monarchies on March 2 declared Lebanon's Hezbollah a "terrorist" group, in the latest regional move against the Shiite organisation fighting in support of Syria's regime.

Former United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali has died aged 93.

His death was confirmed by Rafael Dario Ramirez Carreno, the president of the UN Security Council.

Mr Boutros-Ghali took office in 1992 serving one five-year term as U.N. chief from 1992 to 1996.

The 15-member Security Council observed a minute’s silence.

Israel is looking to exploit its substantial natural gas reserves with two potential pipeline projects to Turkey and Greece, its Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz announced Feb. 7.