First modification:
On the part of Israel, the approval of the Security Council and the ministerial cabinet is lacking. On behalf of Lebanon, President Michel Aoun’s consultations with his team of advisers are expected. However, the parties have assured that the draft is mutually satisfactory.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Yair Lapid, announced that his country and Lebanon, two nations that do not have diplomatic relations, have reached an agreement that he described as “historic” and that, if approved, will allow the dispute over the maritime border between both nations. A gas-rich area in the Mediterranean.
The pact seeks to end the dispute of more than a decade over around 860 square kilometers in the Mediterranean Sea. In that place are the gas fields of Karish and Qana. The first will be exploited by Israel and the second by Lebanon.
In a statement, Lapid stressed that the pact “will strengthen Israel’s security, inject billions into the Israeli economy and ensure the stability of our northern border.”
Israel and Lebanon have reached a historic agreement to settle our maritime boundary dispute.
This unprecedented deal will strengthen Israel’s security, bolster our economy and deliver cleaner, more affordable energy to countries around the world.
— יאיר לפיד – Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) October 11, 2022
The agreement is based on a proposal drafted by the United States that, according to the Israeli leader, complies with “all the economic and security principles established by Israel.” Despite the announcement, the definitive approval that the Israeli Security Cabinet and the group of ministers will have to give is missing.
The agreement comes after an “intense dialogue” between the parties
A few days ago, Israel had presented the bases of the proposal that was drawn up by the American mediator Amos Hochstein and presented to the Security Cabinet.
In that meeting, what Israel considered “acceptable” was determined and the most recent modifications requested by Lebanon were rejected, which came close to blowing up the negotiations.
Because of the tension aroused at that time, Israel ordered its Army to be put on alert on the border with Lebanon. This after Lapid announced his rejection of Lebanese objections. The president assured on that occasion that Israel “will not compromise its interests.”
For this reason, it was necessary that last weekend there be an “intense dialogue” between the teams in charge of the negotiations, which also had the mediation of Hochstein and gave rise to the draft that has been announced today.
Lebanon considers the agreement on the maritime border “satisfactory”
For his part, the Lebanese president, Michel Aoun, who received a copy of the draft agreement during his meeting with the vice president of Parliament and head of the negotiating team, Elias Bou Saab, considered the final version “satisfactory,” assuring that “the Lebanon’s rights to its natural wealth”.
In a statement, the Lebanese Presidency stressed that “the President of the Republic considers the final version of this offer to be satisfactory for Lebanon, especially because it meets the Lebanese demands that have been the focus of a long debate in recent months, and required effort and many hours of difficult and complex negotiations”.
The deal comes amid one of the worst economic and social crises in Lebanon’s history which has pushed around 80% of the population to live below the poverty line while prices of basic food and services continue to fall. upward.
With EFE and AP
#Israel #Lebanon #step #approving #historic #agreement #maritime #border