Towards an understanding in the indirect negotiations between Israel and Lebanon?
The meeting of the American mediator for drawing the maritime border between Israel and Lebanon with the country's leaders ended today (Monday) in a positive atmosphere.
The envoy, Amos Hochstein, said after the meeting at the palace in Abda that he is "very optimistic about reaching an agreement in the coming weeks."
The mediator met there with Lebanese President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabia Berri.
"Beirut informed the American mediator that it adhered to the demand to control all the oil fields within line 23 (the Lebanese position). The gap has narrowed and the American mediator will continue his efforts to draw the maritime border with Israel," an official in Lebanon told the Al Jazeera network.
Officials in Beirut told the Qatari network that as part of the new Israeli proposal forwarded by the American mediator, an outline of a zigzag border emerged.
According to the report, the line will give Israel territory north of line 23 proposed by the Lebanese and in accordance with the Israeli position.
Israel will essentially receive more territory in the eastern area of the border near Cyprus, while Lebanon will receive more territory south of the 23rd line so that the entire Cana field will be included in it.
Recall that this is a potential area for gas exploration.
Amos Hochstein, the American mediator, photo: E.P
At the same time, it was also reported in the Lebanese media that the Israeli proposal is apparently based on the idea of ceding the entire Cana field to Lebanon.
At the beginning of the week, Nasrallah also sounded more reserved about the negotiations. The leader of the terrorist organization Hezbollah emphasized in a speech that Hezbollah is not a party to the agreement and that it is the state's responsibility. According to him, in light of the results of the negotiations on the drawing of the maritime border, Hezbollah will decide how to act in the near future.
This week cautious optimism prevailed in Israel regarding the possibility of soon reaching an agreement with Lebanon on the issue of the maritime border.
The working assumption among political parties is that Lebanon is interested in reaching an agreement, without which it will not be able to develop its gas resources.
The development of the gas fields may generate significant economic returns in the country, which is facing a severe economic crisis.
The impression in Jerusalem is that the pressure on Nasrallah not to thwart a deal on the issue is increasing, and that the Secretary General of Hezbollah is increasing his threats precisely because he feels that the parties are getting closer to an agreement.
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