Israel says seeks diplomatic solution to Med gas spat with Lebanon

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel seeks a foreign-mediated diplomatic resolution with Lebanon over a disputed Mediterranean gas field, the Israeli energy minister said on Wednesday after a surge in hostile rhetoric between the enemy countries. "We hope for, and are prepared to move forward on, a diplomatic resolution to this matter," Yuval Steinitz told the Ynet news site when asked about the Block 9 field, for which Lebanon has issued an oil and gas exploration tender, drawing condemnation from Israel's defense minister last week. (Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Alison Williams)