On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid rejected Lebanese comments on the draft maritime border agreement between the two countries.
A leading Israeli political source said in a statement that “Prime Minister Lapid rejects Lebanon’s comments on the text of the agreement”.
The source added: “Israel received Lebanon’s comments on the draft agreement (..) and the Prime Minister was informed of the details of the new tangible amendments that Lebanon wanted to introduce to the agreement and instructed the negotiating team to reject them. “.
He continued: “Lapid made it clear that Israel will not compromise its security and economic interests in any way, even if it means that no agreement will be reached any time soon.”
He stressed that “Israel will extract gas from the Karish platform when it is possible … Hezbollah) will have to explain to Lebanese citizens why they do not have a gas platform and have no economic future.
The Israeli political circles had warned, a few hours before the Israeli mini-ministerial council for security and political affairs, “the Cabinet”, convened Thursday to discuss the approval of the agreement, of an amendment to the text presented by the United States of ‘America to Israel and Lebanon.
Mikati: The maritime border demarcation with Israel is nearing completion
On the Lebanese side, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced that the demarcation of his country’s maritime borders with Israel is close to completion, considering that by doing so “we will avoid a definitive war in the region”.
He added: “I am personally happy for two things, namely that we are avoiding a definite war in the region and, second and foremost, that when we are united and our decision is one, we can achieve what we all want.”
Two years ago, indirect negotiations began between Beirut and Tel Aviv, with American mediation and the patronage of the United Nations, to resolve a dispute over a Mediterranean region rich in oil and natural gas.
According to a proposal submitted by Washington to Beirut through the American mediator, Amos Hochstein, the potential agreement guarantees Lebanon the entire disputed area, which has an area of about 860 square kilometers, according to statements by Lebanese officials.
TRT Arabic – Agencies
