Final Israel-Lebanon maritime border draft could 'imminently' lead to deal
Lebanese lead negotiator Elias Bou Saab said it would be a "historic deal" if everything goes well.
Lebanese protesters on a motorboat carry their national flag as they sail in front on an Israeli Navy vessel during a demonstration demanding Lebanon's right to its maritime oil and gas fields, in the southern marine border town of Naqoura, Lebanon, Sunday, Sept 4, 2022.
Lebanon has received a final draft of a US-mediated maritime border deal with Israel that satisfies all of Lebanon's requirements and could imminently lead to a "historic deal," Lebanese lead negotiator Elias Bou Saab told Reuters news agency.
"If everything goes well, Amos Hochstein's efforts could imminently lead to a historic deal," Bou Saab said minutes after receiving the final draft from Hochstein, the US official who has engaged in months of shuttle diplomacy to end the dispute.
While limited in scope, an agreement would ease security and economic concerns in both countries, whose shared history is rife with conflict.
The deal will resolve a territorial dispute in the eastern tip of the Mediterranean sea in an area where Lebanon aims to explore for natural gas and near waters Israel has found commercially viable quantities of hydrocarbons.
"We received minutes ago the final draft ... Lebanon felt that it takes into consideration all of Lebanon's requirements and we believe that the other side should feel the same," Bou Saab said.
Israel last week rejected last-minute amendments to the deal by Lebanon that briefly appeared to jeopardize longstanding efforts to reach an agreement.
READ MORE: Lebanon suggests changes to maritime border deal with Israel
US mediated negotiations
Officials from both countries were in close contact via the US mediator over the past days in an effort to resolve outstanding differences.
Lebanon and Israel are officially at war and their land border is patrolled by the United Nations.
They reopened negotiations on their maritime border in 2020, but the process was stalled by Lebanon's demand that the map used by the UN in the talks be modified.
The negotiations resumed in early June after Israel moved a production vessel near the Karish offshore field.
The latest proposal by Washington was welcomed by both Israel and Hezbollah, a major player in Lebanon that considers Israel its arch-enemy.
READ MORE: Israel begins to test pumping gas from disputed gas field with Lebanon
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