Report: Gas deal postponed until after Israeli elections, Aoun's term
U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein, who will return to the region this week, is “deliberately keeping a low profile,” Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth has reported.
He has recently talked in Athens with senior Israeli officials to finalize the final details of the operations of Greek-Cypriot oil exploration company Energean, the daily said. He made a similar move with French company TotalEnergies for the operation of the Lebanese offshore gas field, Yedioth Ahronoth added.
“But, it turns out, the ‘deal’ of operating the gas fields, which is expected to contribute quite a bit to Lebanon's collapsing economy, was postponed until after the elections in Israel, on November 1, and after the end of the six-year term of Lebanese President Michel Aoun,” the daily said.
“Only one day separates the two events. Israel is expected to publish an announcement about the postponement of the decision regarding the Karish field, while the Greek operator of the Energean company will issue an announcement about waiting until the demarcation of the maritime border between the two countries is completed and about a clear and explicit commitment by all parties to maintain security and peace in the area of the gas fields,” the newspaper added.
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