The written transmission of the relevant proposals by the North American negotiator Amos Hochstein to the highest figures of the Lebanese state, government and parliament reinforces the positive atmosphere of the past few weeks for a solution to the dispute.
After several meetings and visits by both sides, Hochstein sent a version of the agreement emphasizing maritime borders and the scope of the exclusive economic zone for Lebanon and occupied Palestine, as well as oil and gas wells and deposits, he revealed to local publication Al-Diyar.
According to reports, the President of the Republic, Michel Aoun; Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri are due to exchange views next week on the technical and logistical details of the US mediator’s text to take Lebanon’s official position.
Faced with this scenario, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah stressed that crucial days lie ahead for Lebanon in defining maritime borders after Hochstein’s offer was conveyed to national authorities through US Ambassador to Beirut Dorothy Shea yesterday.
The Secretary General of the Lebanese Islamic Resistance stressed that if the act of dispute with Israel achieves the required and good result for the country, “it will be the product of unity, cooperation and national solidarity”.
From Tel Aviv, Israeli media assured that Nasrallah had triumphed in the battle for awareness in the negotiations to delimit the sea borders.
The author and Middle East commentator for the daily Maariv, Jacky Houji, stressed on Twitter that the Hezbollah chief was not a partner in the US-brokered negotiations, but he was not excluded from them.
“Now you can say: Thanks to my threats, Israel has shown flexibility. Without me, Lebanon would have been deprived of its rights in the sea,” Houji said.
Lebanon defends the unified position regarding Line 23 and the entire Qana field, a disputed oil and gas rich area of around 860 square kilometers.
For most Lebanese, the ability to invest and exploit their oil and gas wealth would mitigate the impact of the economic and financial crisis, analysts say.
The presence of the Energean Power platform serving Israel on Lebanon’s southern border with occupied Palestine in early June exacerbated the naval dispute with Tel Aviv, which has been on hold since May 2021 after five rounds of negotiations.
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