The emerging agreement concerns the search for natural gas in the Mediterranean • Deputy US Secretary of State: "Opportunity for a real process, we hope to sign in the coming weeks"
Lebanese Prime Minister Mustafa Adiv, Benjamin Netanyahu
Photo:
AFP, Alex Kolomoisky
Israel and Lebanon are approaching the drafting of a framework agreement for negotiations on the points of contention on the border between the two countries - this was said last night (Tuesday) by the US Deputy Secretary of State and the head of the Middle East Department, David Shenkar.
The issue of the border between the countries also concerns territorial waters - which is very significant when Israel operates gas rigs, while the Lebanese strive to find natural resources within their economic water borders.
From the official channel of the Prime Minister of Israel on YouTube
"Such an agreement will create an opportunity for both Israel and Lebanon for a real process," Shenkar said in a press briefing. "The outline for the borders is significant and could have been signed much earlier."
The U.S. Secretary of State declined to comment on what points the agreement would deal with, but added: "I hope we will reach Lebanon in the coming weeks for the signing of an agreement."
The senior US official also noted that he discussed the issue with a senior adviser to Lebanese parliament speaker Nabiya Berry. According to the Lebanese constitution, the speaker of parliament is Shiite and in Berry's case he is a very senior figure - the leader of the Amal party.
"I hope and believe that we are making progress," Shankar told Al-Arabiya, "We expect to conclude this framework agreement so that border negotiations can be conducted.
It took too long, it was an unfortunate waste of time. "
Shenkar's remarks came after on August 16, Lebanese President Michel Aoun clearly did not rule out peace with Israel.
"It depends," he told the French media, "first of all we have problems we will have to solve."
