Amos Hochstein, advisor to the US President, said that he is in the process of evaluating the possibility of discussing a framework for demarcating the land borders between Lebanon and Israel.
Hochstein stated that it is “natural” to consider this issue after the success of his mediation to “achieve the maritime borders” between the two sides in the year 2022.
At the end of his two-day visit to Lebanon, the American advisor said that after listening to the opinions of Lebanese officials in this regard, he will listen to the opinion of the other party to see if the time is appropriate for this issue.
Hochstein also indicated that he visited southern Lebanon to see closely the “blue line and the surrounding areas” in order to understand and learn more about what is required, noting that there is a “window of opportunity” to demarcate the border between the two sides.
The current dividing line between Lebanon and Israel is known as the Blue Line, and it is a border line drawn by the United Nations at the border to which the Israeli occupation forces withdrew when they withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000.
The blue line coincides with the international border line between Lebanon and Palestine in a large part of it, and there are differences in a number of places, so Lebanon has reservations about this line in these places.
The Lebanese Foreign Minister in the caretaker government, Abdullah Bou Habib, said last week that the demarcation of the land borders could put an end to this tension.
The United Nations peacekeeping force (UNIFIL), whose mandate was extended for another year on Thursday, hosted meetings of Lebanon, Israel and the United Nations on the points of contention that prevent the demarcation of land borders.
2023-08-31 20:07:45
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