Israel stresses that “it is possible and necessary” to reach an agreement with Lebanon on the maritime border

Sep. 20 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Government of Israel has stressed that “it is possible and necessary” to reach an agreement with Lebanon on the delimitation of the maritime border, in the midst of indirect contacts that have made significant progress in recent days.

“Israel believes that it is possible and necessary to reach an agreement on the maritime border between Lebanon and Israel in a way that benefits the interests of the citizens of both countries,” said Keren Hajioff, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid.

Thus, he has indicated in a series of messages on his account on the social network Twitter that “such an agreement would be very beneficial and would strengthen regional stability”, while thanking the US mediator, the United States Energy Advisor Amos Hochstein.

“Gas production on the Karish platform is not connected to these negotiations and gas production there will begin without delay, as soon as possible,” he settled, after threats from the Lebanese Shiite militia party Hezbollah.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said on Saturday that the group is giving negotiations a chance, although he reiterated that gas extraction in Karish is “a red line” that would lead to a response.

For his part, the president of Lebanon, Michel Aoun, stressed on Monday that the negotiations “are in their final stage, less than a week after noting that “the contacts to finalize the demarcation issue have made great progress” that would allow “exploit its resources in its waters”.

Israel and Lebanon — which are technically at war and do not maintain diplomatic relations — began a process of indirect talks in October 2020, mediated by the United States and held under the auspices of the United Nations at the headquarters of the international organization. in the Lebanese city of Naqura.

The negotiations revolve around an area of ​​860 square kilometers that, according to both countries, is located in their respective Exclusive Economic Zones, a matter of special importance after the discovery of gas reserves in this area that both Israel and Lebanon hope to be able to exploit. .