US calls for concluding maritime border deal 'in coming weeks'

A White House statement said U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid have discussed negotiations to resolve border issues between Israel and Lebanon.

"The President also emphasized the importance of concluding the maritime boundary negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in the coming weeks," the U.S. statement said.

Lebanon and Israel, whose border is U.N.-patrolled, have no diplomatic relations.

They resumed maritime border negotiations in 2020 but the process was stalled by Beirut's claim that the map used by the United Nations in the talks needed modifying.

Lebanon initially demanded 860 square kilometers (330 square miles) in the disputed maritime area but then asked for an additional 1,430 square kilometers, including part of the Karish offshore gas field.

Israel claims the field lies in its waters and is not part of the disputed area subject to ongoing negotiations.