Biden to Lapid: An agreement must be reached between Israel and Lebanon on the maritime border within a few weeks
The US President raised the issue during his conversation with Lapid this evening. The US envoy Amos Hochstein will arrive on a dialogue trip in the region and meet with senior Lebanese and Israeli officials to try to move forward with an agreement. "We continue to narrow the gaps between the parties and believe that a compromise can be reached," said a White House official
Barak Ravid
31/08/2022
Wednesday, August 31, 2022, 9:30 p.m. Updated: 9:48 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.)
President of the United States Joe Biden emphasized today (Wednesday) in his conversation with Prime Minister Yair Lapid that it is important to conclude the negotiations between Israel and Lebanon on the maritime border in the coming weeks.
The House also reported that the president told the prime minister that he is committed to never allowing Iran to obtain nuclear weapons.
Earlier today, a senior White House official told Walla that reaching an agreement between Israel and Lebanon on resolving the maritime border dispute is a high priority issue for Biden.
A torch flies over a shark rig.
July 2022 (photo: official website, Amos Ben Gershom/L.A.M.)
The big picture
The USA, Lebanon, and Israel are expressing a sense of urgency and have been emphasizing in recent weeks that they want to reach an agreement on the issue as soon as possible. At the same time, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah is increasing his threats to start a war if Lebanon's economic rights are not preserved
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In the news center
During the telephone conversation that took place today (Wednesday) with Prime Minister Lapid, President Biden raised the issue of the maritime border with Lebanon and said that the envoy Hochstein would arrive in the region in the coming days, according to senior Israeli officials who are familiar with the contents of the conversation.
The Israeli officials stated that Hochstein is expected to visit Lebanon and Israel next week and meet with the Lebanese and Israeli leadership in an attempt to move towards an agreement.
Behind the Scenes:
Senior Israeli officials said that the American envoy Hochstein visited Paris this week for talks with senior French government officials regarding the negotiations between Israel and Lebanon on the maritime border.
France is one of the main countries in the West that has an influence on the political leadership in Lebanon.
At the same time, France maintains close relations with the Israeli government.
Senior Israeli officials stated that Hochstein met in Lebanon with senior officials of the French energy company "Total" which holds the rights to search for natural gas in Lebanon's economic waters and which will have to be part of any solution reached in the negotiations.
the situation picture
In recent weeks, Hochstein has had several phone calls with the heads of the Israeli and Lebanese negotiating teams. However, the process of drafting the agreement between the parties and putting the understandings in writing has not yet begun.
what are they saying
"We continue to narrow the gaps between the parties and believe that a compromise can be reached," said a senior White House official.
He added that Hochstein is in daily contact with senior officials in Israel and Lebanon.
"We welcome the positive spirit of both sides and the desire they are expressing to reach an agreement. We believe that if a deal is reached it will have the potential to increase stability and economic prosperity for both countries," said the White House official.
Quick update
The dispute between Israel and Lebanon is over an area of several hundred square kilometers in the eastern Mediterranean where there are apparently natural gas reserves.
The economic profit potential from these gas reserves can reach billions of dollars.
The negotiations on the issue have been going on for over a decade, but in the last six months it has gained significant momentum. Against the background of the political and economic crisis in Lebanon, the issue has become more critical for Lebanon, which caused Hezbollah to intervene in the issue for the first time.
Hezbollah Secretary General Nasrallah set the start of gas production at the "Karish" rig located south of the disputed area as a red line. The rig is expected to start producing gas only at the end of September at the earliest, which leaves a few more weeks for negotiations.
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Political-political
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Lebanon
United States