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Israel and Lebanon hold ‘productive talks’ on maritime border, gas fields

“We remain hopeful that these negotiations will lead to a long-awaited resolution,” the US Embassy stated.

By Aryeh Savir, TPS

Representatives from Israel and Lebanon held “productive talks” on Wednesday on the maritime border between the two countries, one of a series that will determine the ownership of offshore gas fields in the area

The talks are being mediated by the U.S. and hosted by ​the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL) at Rosh Hanikra.

“We remain hopeful that these negotiations will lead to a long-awaited resolution,” the U.S. Embassy stated.

The parties committed to continuing negotiations in early December.

The discussions are aimed at reaching a consensus on a common Israel-Lebanon maritime boundary. The issue has been under discussion for over a decade, but the two countries only recently reached an agreement on a framework for the U.S.-mediated talks.

The focus of both sides is the oil and gas discoveries in the territorial waters which are under dispute.

Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary-General of the Lebanon-based Hezbollah terror organization, emphasized on Wednesday in a speech marking Hezbollah Martyrs’ Day that his organization will not get involved in border demarcation, maritime or land, saying that it’s the state’s responsibility and falls under its constitutional mechanisms.

He stressed that Lebanon must know “that it is in a position of strength, not in a position of weakness. We have rights, we are strong,” he said, noting that the Israeli “occupation” also needs the oil and gas, “and if it sought to prevent us from extracting our resources, we also can prevent it.”

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According to reports, Lebanon surprised Israel with a demand for an additional 1,460 square kilometers from Israel’s economic water, in addition to the 860 square kilometers on which the discussions are already focusing.

The new Lebanese demand means they are claiming ownership of the Karish gas field and Block 72, where Israel plans to enable further drilling for gas.