In early February, the American-Israeli envoy on behalf of the White House, Amos Hochstein, visited Israel and Lebanon, accompanied by proposals to promote a settlement on the gas-rich maritime territory, which is in dispute between the two countries.
Hochstein did not provide details on what was achieved, but the feeling was that the agreement was already on the horizon, and that the two countries would complete what was needed with his return visit in a few days.
The statements made, including those of Hezbollah, were encouraging.
It was understood that Hochstein had lowered the Lebanese from their claim for the addition of a large area beyond the disputed area, which remained around the 860 square kilometers.
To alleviate Lebanon, which is in a deep economic crisis, Hochstein suggested that international gas companies not wait for a settlement, start producing gas and divide it between the two countries.
Lebanon rejected the proposal because it saw it as a kind of normalization with Israel, and is now due to give its answer to the proposal for the division of territory proposed by Hochstein.
According to this proposal, the division of territory gives greater territory to Lebanon than to Israel.
But recently everything went wrong, and a inhibiting factor was born in the character of Mr. "Ego".
The first ego is that of President Michel Aoun himself.
He wants to end the affair quickly and attribute the achievement to his credit before the end of his term, and before he leaves the presidential palace in Babada in a few months.
The other ego is that of the Speaker of Parliament, Nabiya Berry. A decade ago, it was Berry who dealt with the issue, and he was the one who submitted the Lebanon claim to the UN, on the basis of which the discussions are taking place.
He even sought to advance the cause and earn points for himself, and indeed, a little over six months ago, he succeeded in persuading the United States to bring Israel and Lebanon to talks in Rosh Hanikra.
But President Aoun had other plans: he took the reins, and began to centralize the issue from the presidency.
Now that the arrangement seems closer than ever, Berry has backtracked, demanding that he once again concentrate contacts on possible agreements.
But the hardest and most problematic ego is that of Hezbollah.
The organization has stated that it will not intervene and allow the Lebanese government to manage affairs, but its political situation has deteriorated in the internal arena, and in order to improve it, it has once again raised its head and taken advantage of the maritime border with Israel for its internal needs.
The chairman of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc has stated that his organization prefers that the gas remain in the belly of the sea - and in particular that Israel will not benefit from it.
The Americans do not approve of these ego games, and are interested in ending the affair with Hochstein's return to the area in a few days.
Inspired by Hezbollah, Lebanon is apparently going to demand the entire disputed territory for itself - an absurdity that the US and Israel can not accept.
These demands will delay the agreement again, and Nasrallah will use it to his advantage.
Without American pressure nothing will move.
In Washington's situation these days with Putin and Ukraine, China and Iran, the question arises as to whether the US will use all its weight to end the affair. In part of the quarrel area that is supposed to be hers.
Were we wrong?
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