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."

The US-mediated agreement is designed to resolve the dispute over exploration for natural gas in the offshore area. The maritime zone includes the Israeli gas field Karish, which could become operational very soon, and the Lebanese Kana reservoir, which yet to be explored. The proposal involves Israel keeping Karish as well as a small part of the area where Kana is located, while most of the zone would be handed over to Lebanon. Israel would receive royalties for Lebanon using its part of the Kana area.

Last week, upon receiving the draft proposal from America mediator Amos Hochstein, Lapid and Gantz said they were willing to accept it. Lapid defended the document against opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who accused him of caving to all of Lebanon's demands. The prime minister argued that the proposal protects Israel’s security and that it is in Israel’s interest for economically strapped Lebanon to benefit from the natural gas reserves.