Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid has revealed Israel and Lebanon’s agreement over a disputed maritime border between them.
This new deal would usher in a significant compromise between these two states with a history of war, opening opportunities for offshore energy exploration and reducing tensions between states.
In a statement released by Lapid, he said, “This is a historic achievement that will strengthen Israel’s security, inject billions into Israel’s economy, and ensure the stability of our northern border.”
Recall that Lebanese President Michel had expressed satisfaction with the final draught of the deal received from U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein while also stating optimism about the deal. Israeli National Security Advisor Eyal Hulata also gave a positive remark regarding the final draft.
“All our demands were met, and the changes that we asked for were corrected.” “We protected Israel’s security interests and are on our way to a historic agreement,” he said in a statement.
Hochstein has been the intermediary, shuttling between the two warring sides, which have no diplomatic relations.
Meanwhile, the heavily armed, Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah has remained silent on the specifics of the proposals throughout the indirect talks but has expressed willingness to accept the Lebanese government’s position.
Lebanese negotiator Elias Bou Saab had earlier revealed that if everything went well, Hochstein’s “efforts could imminently lead to a historic deal.” And with this latest draft, Lebanon believes it “takes into consideration all of Lebanon’s requirements, and we believe that the other side should feel the same,” he said.
While Israel has commenced production and export, Lebanon’s efforts have been affected by political instability.
