Israel’s(Washington Insider Magazine)-Could an Israeli border deal be on the horizon between Israel and Lebanon?
Lebanon and Israel struck a deal to establish the Israeli Maritime Border, which is recognized by Prime Minister Yair Lapid as a political achievement given the dynamic of the two countries’ diplomatic relationships and war status.
However, Lebanese President Michel Aoun does not share the same viewpoints as the Israeli President. He strongly points out that this border deal does not change Lebanon’s relationship with Israel.
With election season coming up on November 1, it is speculated Aoun signed this deal into effect as a final achievement in his political career. His term ends on October 31.
Lapid eagerly shared with his cabinet during a broadcast that it is not a normal occurrence for an opposing country to recognize the state of Israel on paper.
After months of communication between the two countries and intervention from the US envoy for energy affairs, Amos Hochstein, a compromise was made on the maritime border agreement that sets a border between the Israeli and Lebanese oceans.
The agreement does not formally recognize Israel as a state, but it does give Israel authorization to the Karish field, which has 2.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
In addition to Israel receiving Karish, the deal allows Lebanon to receive Qana field but is required to share the royalties received from TotalEnergies for the land that surpasses the maritime border.
This deal opens the door for Lebanon to begin producing revenue as an oil producer and spring them out of debt since the country has been plummeting further in debt since October 2019.
President Joe Biden believes this agreement is beneficial for both parties and will create a more secure, integrated, prosperous future for the Middle East.
Both countries signed and sent their copies of the Maritime deal to U.S. officials in Lebanon’s Naqoura.
