Israel has denied a Lebanese allegation it is encroaching on a disputed Mediterranean natural gas field, playing down on Monday any prospect of conflict over the dispute.
After months of deadlock in U.S.-mediated talks on maritime delineation, Beirut on Sunday warned against any activity in the disputed area, responding to the arrival of a vessel operated by London-based Energean to produce gas for Israel.
Israel says the field in question is within its exclusive economic zone, not in disputed waters.
"This (Lebanese account) is very far from reality," Israeli Energy Minister Karin Elharrar told Tel Aviv radio 103 FM, adding that there was "unequivocally no" encroachment by Israel.
Lebanon is home to the heavily armed, Iran-backed Hezbollahgroup, which has fought numerous wars with Israel. Hezbollah has previously warned Israel against drilling inthe disputed area until the issue is resolved, and said thegroup would take action if it did so.
Asked about the prospect of escalation, Elharrar said: "We are not there at all. Really, such is the disconnect (between rhetoric and reality) that I do not believe they would take action."
But she added: "Israel is making preparations (and) I recommend that no one try to surprise Israel."
There was no immediate comment from the United States, which in 2000 began mediating indirect talks between the two sides to settle a long-running dispute that hasobstructed energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean.
Energean said its floating production storage and offloadingvessel arrived on Sunday at the Karish field, about 80 km (50miles) west of the city of Haifa, in Israel's exclusive economiczone.
The company said it planned to bring it online in thethird quarter.
Lebanon says its border cuts into the sea at an anglefarther south and Israel's claim runs farther north, creating atriangle of disputed waters. Last year, Beirut expanded its claim by around 1,400 squarekm (540 square miles), enlarging the area disputed with Israel.
Lebanon has yet to respond to an undisclosed proposal a U.S.envoy made early this year to revive the stalled talks. Elharrar voiced hope Beirut would come back to the table.
"Ultimately, there are gains to be made from negotiating, and they can get a gas field of their own," she said.
(Writing by Dan Williams; editing by Jason Neely)
