Defense Minister Benny Gantz instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare for escalation on Israel's northern border after Prime Minister Yair Lapid dismissed the changes requested by the Lebanese government over the most recent draft of a bilateral maritime agreement. Israel’s security cabinet convened this afternoon to review the changes requested by Lebanon on Tuesday.
The Israeli security establishment fears that Hezbollah could attack the Karish rig and other Israeli targets. Gantz met this afternoon with IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi, Director-General of the Defense Ministry Amir Eshel and head of the Operations Directorate Shlomi Binder. Following the assessment meeting, Gantz instructed the defense establishment to prepare for increased tensions in the northern arena, "including defense and offense readiness."
