“After years of mediation by the United States, the governments of Israel and Lebanon announced a consensus on a historic agreement to create a permanent maritime border between the two countries,” Blinken said in a statement.
The minister considered the step “the beginning of a new era of prosperity and stability in the Middle East, and it will provide vital energy to the peoples of the region and the world.”
In addition to providing tremendous benefits to the Lebanese and Israeli people, today’s announcement demonstrates the power of regional cooperation to confront common challenges in the Middle East and beyond, and underscores the transformative power of American diplomacy.
He continued, “This agreement protects the economic and security interests of Israel and Lebanon and represents a new chapter for the peoples of the region.”
On Tuesday, officials said Lebanon and Israel had reached a historic agreement to demarcate a disputed maritime border.
Although the agreement is limited in scope, it would represent an important compromise between the two countries, clearing the way for offshore energy exploration, and relieving a source of newer tensions between the two countries.
“This is a historic achievement that will enhance Israel’s security, inject billions into its economy, and ensure the stability of our northern borders,” Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said in a statement.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun also commented that the terms of the final draft of the agreement he received from the American mediator Amos Hochstein are satisfactory to Lebanon, and that he “hopes to announce that the agreement will be reached as soon as possible.”
#Blinken #LebanonIsrael #agreement #protects #interests #countries