Meet Amos Hochstein.
An Israeli after full military service, defines himself as a moderate Orthodox.
Hochstein is President Biden's representative for talks between Israel and Lebanon to demarcate the maritime border between them.
Nasrallah has already raised an eyebrow at the choice of an Israeli, whose heart is undoubtedly in Israel's favor, but Hezbollah's secretary general has no choice, because the decision to appoint him is American.
Hochstein worked with Biden when he was vice president, and is well versed in energy.
Talks between Israel and Lebanon were stopped months ago mainly because of Lebanon's greedy demands to significantly increase the disputed territory in its favor.
Biden decided to make another effort to resume negotiations, and reach an acceptable settlement on both sides.
Deputy Foreign Minister Victoria Noland was summoned to talks in Beirut, followed by Amos Hochstein, and the two met with the Lebanese leadership to restart the meetings between Israel and Lebanon.
In Jerusalem and Washington it is clear that while Lebanon requires more territory for itself, in addition to what was agreed with Israel, it is in fact deliberately blowing up the negotiations.
The increase in area will bring the "shark" gas field into Lebanese territory, which Israel strongly opposes.
Washington wants to give the Lebanese another chance.
The United States and Israel have made it clear to Lebanon that any deviation from what has been agreed in the past regarding the maritime territory to be divided will bring a final end to the talks.
Less than two years ago, Lebanon and Israel, with the support of the United States, informed the UN that the area of the marital dispute between them stands at 860 square kilometers. To Lebanon.Israel has agreed.But now, when Beirut demands more larger territory, the process is delayed.
Lebanon does not want to upset the United States because it is the main supporter of the Lebanese army. In secret, it does not want to upset Israel either. In practice, too, Lebanon does not have too much room for maneuver. , Because he knows this will put an end to conversations. In an important declarative move, he retired the head of the Lebanese delegation for talks, General Bassam Yassin, known for his rigidity and uncompromising stance. Israel, for its part, has asked an American company to make a bid for gas production in the disputed area without waiting for the Lebanese.
These developments may bring Lebanon back to the ground of reality. It would be desirable for Beirut to realize that time does not work in its favor, and that it has three options: not to reach an agreement with Israel, to accept Hoff's outline or to adopt Amos Hochstein's proposal that a commercial company be responsible for gas production and distribution between Israel and Lebanon without direct involvement.
Hochstein's proposal receives sympathetic attention in the corridors of power in Beirut, because it largely refutes Hezbollah's base claim, as if the purpose of the direct talks to demarcate the border is to normalize relations between Jerusalem and Beirut.
It is to be hoped that the United States will continue to put pressure on Lebanon, and that Israel will insist that there be no additional territory for Lebanon, beyond what has already been agreed.
