Lebanon set to take stance on US maritime proposal after consultations

Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun will decide after consultations among top officials on a US-mediated proposal which could potentially resolve a maritime border dispute between the Arab country and the occupying Israeli regime.

According to a tweet posted by the Lebanese presidency, Aoun was to meet with Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Monday to discuss the proposal, drafted by Amos Hochstein, the US official mediating indirect talks over the past year.

"Lebanon will set its position on Hochstein's proposal in consultation with the heads of parliament and government. There will be no partnership with the Israeli side," Aoun said.

Last week, Hochstein submitted a new proposal to Lebanon that would pave the way for offshore energy exploration.

The details of the 10-page draft are not known, but Lebanese officials have been optimistic.

Deputy speaker Elias Bou Saab told parliamentarians on Monday that Lebanon would propose "amendments" to the latest draft. "The devil is in the details."

Earlier on Friday, Bou Saab also said, “We have managed to resolve several pending points between the Lebanese and Israeli sides and the solutions are appropriate for Lebanon.”

On Saturday, the Hezbollah resistance movement has said the proposal's submission was "a very important step." Berri has labeled it "positive."

The Lebanese president earlier spoke about breakthroughs on the issue of demarcation of the Lebanese southern maritime borders, assuring that Lebanon will receive the wealth it deserves and that this file is reaching its "happy endings." In August, Lebanon rejected an Israeli proposal on the demarcation.

Israel not allowed to extract from disputed Karish gas field if Lebanon’s rights not secured: Nasrallah

Nasrallah says Israel will not be allowed to conduct drilling operations for oil and natural gas in the disputed area in the Mediterranean Sea until Beirut gets what it deserves.

The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar said on August 19 Israel had pledged to acknowledge that Line 23 and the Qana prospect field are in Lebanese territory while also pleading with Hezbollah to set aside potential plans to attack gas fields in case of a delayed deal. On the same day, Secretary General of Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah rejected any delays in the case as Lebanon is going through dire economic conditions.

Hezbollah had set a deadline for Lebanon to secure its rights over the disputed areas.

The Hezbollah chief earlier said the Israeli regime would not be allowed to conduct drilling operations for oil and natural gas in the disputed area in the Mediterranean Sea until Lebanon gets what it deserves.

In February 2018, Lebanon signed its first contract for drilling in two blocks in the Mediterranean with a consortium comprising energy giants Total, Eni, and Novatek.

Lebanon and the Israeli regime took part in indirect talks to discuss the demarcation in 2020. But the talks stalled after Lebanon demanded a larger area, including part of the Karish gas field, where Israel has given exploration rights to a Greek firm.

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