Israel's proposal to resolve the dispute with Lebanon on the maritime border

National Security Adviser Eyal Hulta conveyed to the White House yesterday Israel's position regarding the departure of American envoy Amos Hochstein to Beirut.

Israel presented an outline for the distribution of the profits from the potential gas reserves in the disputed area

Barak Ravid

07/27/2022

Wednesday, July 27, 2022, 4:49 p.m. Updated: 7:08 p.m.

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In the video: Prime Minister Lapid and Defense Minister Gantz on a tour of the Northern Command (photo: L.A.M.)

Yesterday (Tuesday) Israel forwarded to the United States an updated proposal regarding the negotiations on the maritime border with Lebanon. Two senior Israeli officials briefed on the matter said that the Israeli position was conveyed to the White House ahead of the arrival of American envoy Amos Hochstein in Beirut next week as part of the mediation he is carrying out between the parties.

why is it important

• The Biden administration, the Israeli government and the Lebanese government hope that Hochstein's visit to Beirut will lead to a breakthrough towards an agreement, and this against the background of the threats made by Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah in the last two weeks that he will start a war if Lebanon's rights in the negotiations are not preserved.

In the news center

• Lebanese President Michel Evan and other senior Lebanese officials said that Hochstein would arrive in Beirut next Sunday to hold talks on the dispute over the maritime border with Israel.

• Hochstein joined President Biden's visit to Israel two weeks ago.

  As published in Walla!

  Lapid and Hochstein talked on the sidelines of the visit and the Prime Minister made it clear to the American envoy that he was interested in an agreement on the maritime border as soon as possible.

• Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah said in an interview with the Al-Mayadeen network last Monday that if Lebanon cannot produce natural gas in the disputed territory, his organization will prevent Israel from producing natural gas as well. "If it leads to war, we will go to war," said Nasrallah.

More in Walla!

Lapid to the American envoy: wants an agreement with Lebanon on the maritime border as soon as possible

To the full article

Shark rig (photo: official website, Energian company)

• Senior officials in the defense establishment said that Nasrallah's statements were intended to try and get credit in Lebanon for the agreement when it is reached and to show that this happened thanks to the pressure he exerted.

  The Israeli intelligence assessment is that Nasrallah will not carry out his threats and that an agreement will be reached within a few weeks.

• However, the IDF increased alertness for a possible escalation against Hezbollah on the northern border and carried out additional preparatory measures to protect the gas rigs in the Mediterranean Sea.

Behind the Scenes

• On Tuesday, National Security Adviser Eyal Hulta and the head of the Israeli negotiating team, Udi Adiri, held a conversation with American envoy Hochstein and President Biden's senior adviser on Middle East affairs, Brett McGarrack, regarding the negotiations with Lebanon.

• Senior Israeli officials said that the purpose of the conversation was to convey Israel's updated position so that Hochstein could deliver it in his talks in Beirut.

• The Israeli officials said that in the position that Israel presented it was emphasized that it is ready to make concessions regarding the area of ​​dispute with Lebanon, but will not agree to any concession outside the area of ​​dispute.

• Israel made it clear that it has economic rights to any gas reservoir that is discovered in the disputed area with Lebanon, but would be willing to compromise on the distribution of the potential profits.

• Senior Israeli officials said that Israel has presented the US with an outline for a "fair distribution of the potential profits" from any gas reservoir discovered in the disputed area.

• Israel made it clear to the US that it is ready to make changes to the maritime border, but not changes that would have any effect on the land border with Lebanon.

what are they saying

• "We hope that everyone understands that there is a golden opportunity here to reach a deal, but at this stage we have no indication that the Lebanese side will agree," said an Israeli senior official.

• US State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Tuesday that progress in resolving the maritime border dispute is possible only through negotiations between the two governments and not through threats. "We believe that a solution can be reached," said Price.

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• barge

• gas

• Lebanon

• United States