Today, Tuesday, Lebanon handed over to the US Embassy its notes on a proposal to demarcate the maritime border with Israel, according to a negotiating official, at a time when officials hope to soon reach an agreement that would allow the country, mired in economic crisis, to invest their potential oil and gas resources.
“An answer was delivered today to the American ambassador” in Beirut, Dorothy Shih, said Deputy Parliament Speaker Elias Abu Saab, who was assigned by President Michel Aoun to oversee the case.
“I think he fell into the hands of an American intermediary,” Amos Hochstein added in an interview with local LBC television.
On Saturday, Lebanese officials received a US proposal from the US ambassador regarding the demarcation of maritime boundaries. After posting their comments on it, they were formalized in the form of a report in preparation for sending to Hochstein to discuss its content with the Israeli side.
Lebanon hopes to receive a response by the end of the week in preparation for defining its official position on the agreement.
Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati said on Tuesday that “the case is on the right track to reaffirm Lebanon’s rights to its deep waters.”
The content of the offer has not been officially disclosed. However, the voiced positions reflected optimism about the possibility of reaching an agreement.
A Lebanese official familiar with the talks told AFP on Tuesday that “the amendments requested by Lebanon are intended to make the text more clear and non-interpretable.”
Since the beginning of June, events related to the file have accelerated after a months-long hiatus following the arrival of a production and storage vessel at the Karish field in preparation for the start of gas production from it. Beirut considers the field a disputed area, while Israel claims it is in its exclusive economic zone.
Negotiations between the two sides were halted in May 2021 due to disagreements over the area of the disputed area. When negotiations began, negotiations were limited to an estimated maritime area of about 860 square kilometers, the boundaries of which are known as Line 23, based on a map sent by Lebanon in 2011 year at the UN. However, Lebanon later considered that the map was based on incorrect estimates and demanded a search of another 1,430 square kilometers, including parts of the Karish field known as Line 29.
After the arrival of a gas production platform off the Israeli coast, Lebanon submitted a new proposal to Hochstein, which does not concern Karish and includes the so-called Qana field, through which Line 23 passes.
An official familiar with the negotiations explained that the offer “depends on the 23rd line without zigzags, with the exception of the part located south of the Qana field, whose investment has become completely Lebanese property.”
It is expected, according to the same source, that the French company Total will begin drilling in the area as soon as the agreement is announced.
The Jewish state, in turn, praised the American proposal, which, according to Prime Minister Yair Lapid, will improve “Israel’s security and economy.” Lapid said his country would get some profit from the Kana mine.
However, Lebanese officials denied the possibility of Lebanon paying its share to Israel.
The Lebanese authorities are counting on the presence of oil reserves that will help the country overcome the catastrophic consequences of an economic collapse that has dragged on for almost three years.
Experts confirm that if gas is found in the Qana field, Lebanon will need at least five to six years to produce it and then benefit from it.
