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WORLD NEWS Monday 24 october 2022
Israeli High Court rejects challenges to Lebanon sea deal

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s exploiting undersea natu-
Supreme Court on Sunday ral gas reserves. Lebanon
threw out four legal chal- hopes gas exploration will
lenges to a landmark mari- help lift its country out of its
time agreement between spiraling economic crisis.
Israel and Lebanon, clear- Israel also hopes to exploit
ing a major hurdle for the gas reserves while also eas-
deal that could mark a ma- ing tensions with its northern
jor breakthrough in relations neighbor.
between the two countries. Critics of the deal who had
The court did not immedi- appealed to the court said
ately release its reasons for the current interim gov-
rejecting the challenges, ernment should not be al-
which were submitted by lowed to change Israel’s
an influential conservative maritime border or make The wall on the Israeli border with Lebanon, is seen at right, with
policy group and an ultra- such weighty, strategic de- the Mediterranean Sea in the distance, in Ras Hanikra, Israel, on
nationalist Israeli politician, cisions without an electoral Oct. 14, 2022. Associated Press
among others. The court’s mandate.
ruling paves the way for “Israel has crossed a fun- tank that had petitioned Hezbollah fought a month-
the agreement to be given damental democratic line, the court. Israel heads to long, inconclusive war and
final approval by Israel’s with a lame duck govern- the polls for the fifth time tensions with the group re-
the government, a step ment agreeing to give up in less than four years next main high.
expected later this week. the country’s sovereign week. Israel says the deal will bol-
Lebanon and Israel both territory to an enemy state Israel and Lebanon and ster its security, help sta-
claim some 860 square ki- days before an election,” formally have been at war bilize the northern frontier
lometers (330 square miles) said Eugene Kontorovich, since Israel’s establishment and boost the economy
of the Mediterranean Sea. of the Kohelet Policy Fo- in 1948. In 2006, Israel and with billions in revenue from
At stake are rights over rum, the conservative think the Shiite militant group any gas discovered.q

U.K. prime minister: Sunak leads race, Johnson yet to declare

By SYLVIA HUI finalists in an online vote.
Associated Press The new leader is due to be
LONDON (AP) — Former selected by Friday.
British Treasury chief Rishi A possible return to power
Sunak was the frontrunner for Johnson, 58, who offi-
Sunday in the Conserva- cially quit only in early Sep-
tive Party’s race to replace tember, has deeply divid-
Liz Truss as prime minister. ed the Conservatives and
Sunak garnered the pub- alarmed many others. Sup-
lic support of over 100 Tory porters say he is a vote win-
lawmakers to forge ahead ner and has enough sup-
of his two main rivals: for- port from lawmakers, but
mer Prime Minister Boris many critics warn that an-
Johnson and ex-Cabinet other Johnson government
minister Penny Mordaunt. would be catastrophic for
But widespread uncer- The wall on the Israeli border with Lebanon, is seen at right, with the party and the country.
tainty remained after Brit- the Mediterranean Sea in the distance, in Ras Hanikra, Israel, on Northern Ireland minis-
ish media reported that Oct. 14, 2022. ter Steve Baker, a former
Sunak held late-night talks running again in the latest cording to the unofficial backer of Johnson and an
with Johnson on Saturday. leadership contest. tallies. influential politician within
Speculation mounted that Sunak has the backing of U.K. Business Secretary Ja- the Conservative Party,
the pair could strike a deal at least 124 Conservative cob Rees-Mogg told the warned a Johnson come-
to unite the fractured gov- lawmakers, according to BBC on Sunday that he back would be a “guaran-
erning party after it was unofficial tallies compiled spoke with Johnson and teed disaster.” Baker noted
left reeling from Truss’ rapid by British news organiza- “clearly he’s going to that Johnson still faces an
downfall following John- tions. That’s well ahead stand” after flying back to investigation into whether
son’s ouster. of the 100 nominations re- London Saturday from a he lied to Parliament while
The Conservative Party quired to qualify. vacation in the Dominican in office about breaking his
hastily ordered a contest “There will be integrity, pro- Republic. government’s own corona-
that aims to finalize nomi- fessionalism and account- Mordaunt and Johnson — virus restrictions during par-
nations Monday and install ability at every level of the if he confirms he is running ties at Downing Street.
a new prime minister — its government I lead and I will — have until Monday after- “This isn’t the time for Boris
third this year — within a work day in and day out to noon to garner 100 nomi- and his style,” Baker told
week. get the job done,” Sunak nations. If all three meet Sky News on Sunday. “What
Sunak, 42, was runner-up said in a statement. the threshold, lawmakers we can’t do is have him as
after Truss in this summer’s Johnson, who has not yet will vote to knock out one prime minister in circum-
Tory leadership race to re- declared if he is running, and then hold an indica- stances where he’s bound
place Johnson after he has public support from tive vote on the final two. to implode, taking down
was forced out by a string about 50 lawmakers so far, The party’s 172,000 mem- the whole government ...
of ethics scandals. On Sun- while Mordaunt had sup- bers would then get to and we just can’t do that
day, he confirmed he was port from about 23, ac- decide between the two again.”q