Bou Saab to contact Hochstein as ambiguity engulfs demarcation file
Lebanese officials concerned with the sea border demarcation file have said that Israeli media is trying to spread conflicting reports about the issue, despite what Israel’s Channel 12 reported over the past hours about an “emerging agreement.”
“The remaining obstacles, whether there’s one or many obstacles, will have the same result, which is the failure of the agreement,” the sources told al-Akhbar newspaper in remarks published Tuesday.
The sources added that U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein “has not communicated with any Lebanese official since he left Lebanon following his latest visit to Beirut,” revealing that Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab “intends to contact Hochstein over the next two days to inquire about the latest developments.”
“There are no indications or information that confirm that he would visit Lebanon soon,” the sources went on to say.
Citing information coming from the United States, the sources said Hochstein is “carrying out meetings in Washington in order to finalize the agreement.”
The sources, however, added that “the remarks about an imminent agreement carry exaggerations, seeing as we are still before three scenarios: finalizing the agreement, postponing the work in Karish, or an Israeli adventure through completing the drilling and exploration works which would lead to a military confrontation.”
“The chances of the three scenarios are equal,” the sources said, adding that “the U.S. mediator might meet with a new Israeli delegation in the coming days to continue the discussions.”
And as prominent sources said that “Lebanon has been informed of the Israeli enemy’s agreement to give up Line 23 and the Qana field,” al-Akhbar noted that “the discussions in Israel are still revolving around Israel’s sovereignty over the field, and accordingly Lebanon would have to request a permission every time for the entry of exploration ships or to carry out any works, something that is rejected by Lebanon.”
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