The Lebanese cabinet on Wednesday approved the appointment of the six members of the authority tasked with administrating the oil sector.

The Lebanese cabinet on Wednesday approved the appointment of the six members of the authority tasked with administrating the oil sector.

During a session at the Grand Serail, the cabinet also decided to accept military vehicles and equipment donated to the Internal Security Forces by the U.S. embassy, and called for “keeping the army away from political bickering,” Information Minister Walid al-Daouq announced.

Speaker Nabih Berri had continuously threatened to debrief the cabinet if it didn’t carry out its tasks regarding Lebanon’s offshore oil wealth project.

In January, the cabinet approved the oil and gas decrees after lengthy discussion over who should administer the tender and oil and gas exploration in Lebanon’s offshore territorial borders.

Lebanon and the Zionist occupation entity are bickering over a zone that consists of 882 square kilometers and suspected energy reserves there could generate billions of dollars.

Meanwhile, Lebanese Parliament approved reducing prison year amid protests by Roumieh inmates, who held 17 Internal Security Forces members hostage.

The controversial issue of reducing the prison year to nine months was submitted to voting and 51 lawmakers approved the decision.

However, the law excludes prisoners sentenced to death or life in prison, as well as repeat offenders.

According to local media outlet, the inmates were demanding a general amnesty instead of reduction the prison year to 9 months.

The riots turned to celebrations after Interior Minister Marwan Charbel informed the prisoners through a phone call about the parliament's decision, prompting the release of the ISF members.

During the session, the parliament also ended a prolonged debate on the transportation allowance by approving a draft-law based on the two proposals made by MPs Ibrahim Kanaan and Nabil de Freij.

Speaker Berri tasked Labor Minister Salim Jreissati, Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP Kanaan and al-Mustaqbal bloc lawmaker de Freij to agree on an amended draft that includes both proposals.

Sharp differences in opinion between former Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas and Prime Minister Najib Miqati forced Nahhas to resign after he refused any compromises regarding the transportation and education allowances decrees and vowed not to sign them.

But acting labor minister Nicolas Fattoush later signed the decrees. And Jreissati was later appointed as Nahhas’ successor.