Hochstein to visit Lebanon by the end of the week

Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab confirmed Tuesday ahead of a parliament session that U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein will visit Lebanon by the end of the week.

The MPs will discuss in their first legislative session today the maritime border demarcation with Israel.

"We will not give up our rights and there will be no partnership with the enemy," Bou Saab said, as he sensed "positivity" in the negotiations.

He added that Lebanon is negotiating "from a strong position" and that there is hope for a solution to be reached.

"Line 29 is a choice and it is not negotiable," Bou Saab said.

Lebanon and Israel, separated by a U.N.-patrolled border, had resumed negotiations over their maritime border 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 of territory in the disputed maritime area but then asked for an additional 1,430 square kilometers, including part of Karish.

The maritime border dispute returned to the fore last month after Israel moved a production vessel into Karish, parts of which are claimed by Lebanon.

The move forced the Lebanese government to call for the resumption of U.S.-mediated negotiations, while Hezbollah threatened Israel against proceeding with extraction.

Lebanon is now waiting for a response from Israel after relaying its maritime border position to Hochstein who visited Beirut last month at the request of authorities.