Senior US administration official: There was progress in negotiations on the maritime border at the end of the week

During the weekend, talks were held between the American ambassador Amos Hochstein and the deputy speaker of the Lebanese parliament, who is responsible for the contacts regarding the maritime border agreement. Several drafts and new versions were exchanged in an attempt to reach an agreement regarding the remaining gaps. Hochstein informed Israel about the talks

Barak Ravid

08/10/2022

Saturday, October 8, 2022, 7:52 p.m. Updated: 8:11 p.m.

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Mediator Amos Hochstein with Lebanese President Michel Aon (Photo: Reuters)

A senior official in the American administration said today (Saturday) to Walla: There was progress over the weekend in the negotiations on the maritime border. Several drafts and new versions were exchanged in an attempt to reach an agreement regarding the remaining gaps

. Lebanese parliamentarian Elias Bou Sa'ev, who is responsible for contacts with the US regarding the maritime border agreement. Hochstein updated Israel over the weekend regarding his talks with the Lebanese side.

On Tuesday, Lebanon forwarded to the American envoy Amos Hochstein a series of comments regarding the draft agreement on the maritime border, primarily opposition to the clause in the agreement that gives Israel a "veto" on the start of gas exploration in the disputed area and opposition to the recognition of the "Line of Lines" as an international border, according to reports in several media outlets in Lebanon .

A senior political official clarified in response that "Prime Minister Yair Lapid will not agree to compromise on the security and economic interests of the State of Israel. We are waiting to receive the comments officially from authorized parties so that we know if and how to move forward," he said.

Prime Minister Lapid said on Thursday at the conclusion of the cabinet meeting that the Biden administration is trying to pressure Lebanon to retract some of its comments, in order to bring about an agreement on the maritime border according to the original version drawn up by envoy Amos Hochstein.

"We need to avoid war cheers. We are trying to reach agreements even now," said Lapid according to several ministers who participated in the meeting.

Senior Israeli officials stated that Israel hopes that the rejection of the Lebanese comments and the firm message that Israel conveyed to the Biden administration that it will not agree to any further compromise will bring American pressure on Lebanon.

According to four ministers who participated in the cabinet meeting, all ministers expressed support for the original version of the agreement and said that it serves Israeli interests and supported Lapid's decision to reject the Lebanese requests for amendments.

"No one said that the original agreement was not good," noted a minister who participated in the meeting.

"New substantial changes"

At the meeting, the ministers of the political-security cabinet authorized Lapid, Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Deputy Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to make decisions in the scenario of an escalation on the northern border without the need to convene the cabinet once again.

Earlier, the Minister of Defense instructed to prepare for a scenario of escalation in the north.

This, as part of the weekly assessment of the situation with the participation of the Chief of Staff, the Director General of the Ministry of Defense and the head of the Operations Division.

Gantz added that preparations must be made for both offensive and defensive efforts, given the developments in the negotiations on the maritime border.

His words came against the background of Israel's rejection of the comments that Lebanon passed on the draft maritime border agreement.

A senior political official said that the Lebanese comments included "fundamental and new changes" in the wording of the agreement that Israel is not ready to accept.

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