Report: Israel wants border deal with Lebanon asap
Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid has told U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein that he wants to make a deal with Lebanon over the disputed maritime border as soon as possible, American news website Axios reported.
The conversation between Lapid and Hochstein took place last week on the sidelines of Biden's visit to Israel.
Axios said that Hochstein responded to Lapid that he's optimistic about reaching a deal in the near future.
Last week, Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Narallah threatened Israel with military escalation if a future deal over the disputed maritime border is not in Lebanon’s favor.
Lebanon says the Karish gas field is disputed territory under ongoing maritime border negotiations, whereas Israel claims it lies within its internationally recognized economic waters.
Negotiations between Lebanon and Israel to determine their maritime borders commenced in October 2020, when the two sides held indirect U.S.-mediated talks in southern Lebanon. Since taking over the mediation from late 2021, Hochstein has resorted to shuttle diplomacy with visits to both Beirut and Jerusalem.
Source: Naharnet, Associated Press
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