"Historic agreement" in the Middle East fuels German hopes for gas

Created: 2022-10-12 4:06 p.m

Prime Minister of Israel Jair Lapid during the 77th UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters on September 22.

In October, Israel and Lebanon signed a historic agreement.

© IMAGO/Lev Radin / Pacific Press Agency

Israel and Lebanon are officially still at war.

Now the two countries have reached an agreement that could also help Europe to open up new sources of natural gas.

JERUSALEM - After difficult negotiations, Israel and Lebanon have reached an agreement to demarcate the Mediterranean Sea, settling their dispute over offshore gas fields.

"This historic agreement will strengthen Israel's security and flush billions into the Israeli economy," Israeli Prime Minister Jair Lapid said in Jerusalem on Tuesday.

The deal could also help Europe find new sources of natural gas and shows what diplomacy can do.

Israel-Lebanon Agreement: Foreign Office in Berlin speaks of "historic success"

Against the background of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine and its consequences, Israel has pledged to export more gas to Europe.

The United States mediated the agreement between Israel and Lebanon, which are officially still at war and have no diplomatic relations.

The negotiations had started in 2020, but were repeatedly blocked.

US President Joe Biden now spoke of a “historic breakthrough”.

The Foreign Office in Berlin also spoke of a "historic success".

"This breakthrough shows what diplomacy can do even in seemingly deadlocked conflicts," said a spokeswoman.

Israeli Prime Minister Lapid said the Israeli Security Cabinet will hold a meeting on the agreement on Wednesday.

After that, the government's approval will be obtained at a special meeting of the full cabinet before the agreement is presented to parliament.

Hezbollah boss Hassan Nasrallah also signals approval of the agreement

Israel and Lebanon signaled their approval of US envoy Amos Hochstein's draft agreement on the gas fields in early October.

According to media reports and information from negotiating circles, it stipulated that Israel would be given control of the Karish gas field.

Israel's preparations for gas production there are already underway.

Contracted energy company Energean announced Sunday tests for connecting its drilling platform to mainland Israel.

Lebanon will be allowed to produce natural gas from the Cana gas field further northeast, although part of the gas field lies beyond a planned demarcation line between the two countries' territories.

In return, Israel is to receive part of the proceeds from Cana natural gas.

The Lebanese negotiator, Vice President of the Parliament Elias Bou Saab, said a solution had been reached "that satisfies both sides". Lebanon had "received its full rights and all its comments were taken into account".

In the evening, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah also signaled his approval.

"If the President announces that Lebanon will officially support the agreement, then things will be settled for us," he said in a speech.

Gas wealth is the “only door” to prosperity for Lebanon.

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Gas deposits in the Mediterranean Sea are of great economic interest to Lebanon

Lebanon is also very interested in exploiting the gas reserves in the Mediterranean.

The country has been suffering from the worst economic crisis in its history since 2019.

The national currency has drastically lost value, and poverty and unemployment have recently risen sharply.

Extensive preparations are still necessary before production can begin in the Cana gas field.

The French energy group Total has been commissioned to produce the gas.

According to Saab, Total and not Lebanon should make the compensation payments to Israel.

The agreement on the border agreement came just under three weeks before the end of Lebanese President Aoun's term on October 31.

A day later, a new parliament is also elected in Israel - for the fifth time in three and a half years.

Ex-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allied ultra-Orthodox and right-wing parties could return to power.

Netanyahu accused Lapid last week of "surrendering" to Lebanon with the planned agreement.