BEIRUT, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Parliament member Najib Mikati called upon the United Nations on Monday to stop Israeli violations on Lebanon's maritime borders, said a report by the National News Agency.
"We are concerned about the increasing reports of Israel's attempts to put its hands on the oil wealth in the Lebanese territorial waters, which could cause great tensions," Mikati was quoted as saying.
"Therefore, we count on the role of the United Nations in stopping these violations and preserving Lebanon's right to its wealth and territorial integrity," Mikati said during his meeting with UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis.
Israel has awarded energy exploration licenses near a disputed maritime boundary in Mediterranean waters which prompted Lebanon's House Speaker Nabih Berri to accuse Tel Aviv last month of violating Lebanon's waters.
"This constitutes a violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and it targets the country's oil wealth and waters," he said.
Lebanon has an unresolved maritime border with Israel that involves a triangular sea area of about 860 square km extending along the edge of three of its 10 offshore energy blocks.
The United States had mediated between Lebanon and Israel to end the dispute over maritime borders but failed to reach any positive results.
