BEIRUT (Parliament Politics Magazine) – As negotiations progress with Israel, the U.S. envoy to Lebanon offered a proposal on Saturday for a maritime border demarcation to caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and President Michel Aoun.
Since Israel’s founding in 1948, Israel and Lebanon have been waging an official war, and both nations have maritime claims to about 860 square kilometres (330 square miles) of the Mediterranean Sea.
After meeting with Lebanon’s president, acting prime minister, and speaker of parliament, Amos Hochstein, a senior adviser for energy security at the U.S. State Department who has been acting as a mediator between the two countries, last travelled to Beirut in September.
A statement from Aoun’s office said Hochstein’s suggestion was given during a meeting at the presidential palace in Baabda by U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea.
Last week in an interview with domestic media, President Aoun stated that the negotiations where they would gain their right to extract oil and gas could soon reach a conclusion.
About 860 square kilometres (330 square miles) of the Mediterranean Sea is claimed by both Israel and Lebanon. As it struggles with the worst economic crisis in its recent history, which has forced the country’s three-quarters population into poverty, Lebanon seeks to release offshore oil and gas production.
The Associated Press was informed by an official of Lebanon present at the negotiations last month that the U.S. envoy’s proposal grants Lebanon the right to the Qana field, which is partially within Israeli territory. A portion of it extends far into a disputed area. The biggest issue right now, the official added, was how to draw the line of demarcation so that it extended south of Qana.
At the Karish field’s designated spot, Israel built a gas rig. While Lebanon maintains that Karish is in a disputed area, Israel claims that the field is a part of its exclusive economic zone as recognised by the UN.
Three drones, unarmed, belonging to Lebanon’s iron-backed militant group Hezbollah, were shot down by Israeli forces in July when they were flying over the Karish field. Regarding the maritime dispute, Hezbollah’s leader has warned Israel that “any arm” that attempts to steal Lebanon’s resources “would be cut off.”
The heavily armed organisation, which has engaged in violent conflicts with Israel, has consistently declared in the past that it will use force to defend Lebanon’s economic rights. However, Hezbollah officials have stated that they would support a settlement agreed between Israel and the government of Lebanon.
