Lebanon And Israel Agree To Hold Negotiations Over Disputed Maritime Boundary

Lebanon And Israel Agree To Hold Negotiations Over Disputed Maritime Boundary

Israel and Lebanon announced on Thursday that they have agreed to hold US-mediated negotiations on their maritime border. Israel and Lebanon have been in a state of war since 1982. The discussions will be held at the headquarters of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Naquora, on the Israel-Lebanon border.

The talks are scheduled to begin next week, and they will be the first-ever direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon on non-security matters. They will involve the dispute over an area of approximately 860 sq. km. in the Eastern Mediterranean extending out from the western-most point of the border between the two countries.

Although Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said the sides had agreed to work out disagreements about the Blue Line, in addition to the maritime border, this has subsequently been denied by senior Israeli officials.

Although Israel has not ruled out Blue Line negotiations, Israeli media has reported that they would have to be held separately, and that different people would be involved. The Energy Ministry is deeply involved in the maritime border talks, because there is natural gas in that part of the Mediterranean, which both sides want to develop.

The Blue Line is the land border between Israel and Lebanon after Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon in May 2000. UNIFIL marked the line with blue barrels, giving the line its nickname.

Land border negotiations with Lebanon would likely focus on Mount Dov, an area of the Golan Heights at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border. Lebanon and Syria had a dispute over the territory. Israel took control of the Golan Heights, including Mount Dov, in 1967, and asserted sovereignty over the area in 1981.

When Israel pulled out of southern Lebanon in 2000, the UN certified the departure, but Hezbollah and others in Lebanon consider Israel to be occupying Mount Dov, which they call Shaba Farms. LINK

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has announced that he will be making a televised address on Wednesday, which may include a statement on the scheduled maritime border negotiations.

MORE ON THE TOPIC:

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
50 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
tzatz

Hey … they’re talking

Just complete the negotiations and finalize the co-ordinates …

There’s no GAS discovered in that triangle yet … eh?

Finish it …

Damien C

Lebanon would be nuts to even discuss this with Israel, the original 1948 sea territory was much further south than even the one Lebanon claims today.
Not content with land thefts the ME Cancer is stealing water borders too, there must be a gas field near it

paolinks

Until Erdogan arrives and says: “all the gas fields belong to me”.

Free man

Turkey does not threaten Israel militarily.
It does not seem to be changing anytime soon.

occupybacon

But they can threaten Lebanon

Potato Man

nah

occupybacon

If you say so

Vox Populi

Mr. Erdogan has just stated in a speech to the Parliament that Jerusalem is ours.

Jens Holm

So what. Who is that Erdogan.

Free man

Just words.

Icarus Tanović

That is right.

Vox Populi

Israel’s future is looking very tenuous. Mr. Erdogan has just proclaimed that Jerusalem is ours and it is a duty of every good Muslim to liberate Palestine.

Jens Holm

Who is Erdogan?

Jens Holm

Since then the whole world has changed about sea-territories, so You comment is wrong.

Sauron

Hezbolla will make sure the dispute continues

Free man

This is also my feeling.
But the Lebanese won’t forgive Hezbollah if it thwart this agreement.

paolinks

This agreement. Why? I see in the map that the gas will never be inside Lebanon’s maritime borders.

So agreement for what? For some km^2 of fish?

Free man

There have never been gas exploration in Lebanon’s territorial waters.
Once there is an agreement with Israel, international companies will not be afraid to look for gas in Lebanon’s territorial waters.
There is a likelihood of finding gas in the disputed area because there is an Israeli reservoir not far away.

Jens Holm

According to my knowledge I remember the structures below change there, so Lebanon hardly should have anything and Syria nothing.

At the map above You see “gasa” and “egypt” is the direction for finding something.

Jens Holm

As I wrote above, I agree. Most likely its only a little more then a sniffer.

A kind of compromis could be Israel doung the research and if there are something share the profit minus the drilling costs.

<>

Exactly Sauron.

Jimmy Jim

EXACTLY GAS IS NEEDED KIKER!

Pave Way IV

I’m beginning think Hezbollah doesn’t even exist. For all the rhetoric, they seem to be nothing but punching bags for Israel, while Israel racks up the Hez bodies everywhere year after year except in Southern Lebanon. An imaginary Hezbollah threat seems extraordinarily useful to Israel as an eternal justification for any and all regional cross-border aggression. No steam-fitting shop in Lebanon is safe from the eternally-vigilant IDF.

Jim Allen

Simpleton.

Jens Holm

Compared to him, You anytime is minus.

Jens Holm

Its sharp both ways – yes.

Jens Holm

As long as they can plunder Lebanon they will. They are among the lowest productivis in Lebanon.

Free man

If the negotiations succeed, it will be a tremendous achievement for Lebanon.
Utilization of gas reserves is the only option for Lebanon to recover from the economic crisis in which it finds itself.

<>

I read about it too in our media, most Israelis were happy and the comments were positive. I wish I could translate all those comments from Hebrew, some hated it that’s true but most of us would rather have normalization with Lebanon. However, there is one man there that refuses every compromise, and we know who he is working for…

Free man

“However, there is one man there that refuses every compromise, and we know who he is working for” – ?

<>

I meant Nasrallah Free Man, it’s a direct talks between Israel and Lebanon and I’m sure he would get his orders from Tehran to ruin any future deal.

Free man

Despite the difficult past, I can see overwhelming support in both Lebanon and Israel for an agreement between the two countries.

<>

Hope so.

Free man

If Lebanon emerges from the economic crisis thanks to gas reserves. I don’t see war on the horizon. Lebanon will have something to lose, and Hezbollah will not risk it.

Jim Allen

Risk what ?

Free man

Healthy economy .

Fog of War

” If Lebanon emerges from the economic crisis thanks to gas reserves ”

It will need a totally new political setup first, otherwise, the Lebanese ” elite ” will just steal the funds.

Fog of War

” hold US-mediated negotiations ”
Why not Russian or Chinese mediation ? Because everyone is afraid of the Khazar, its unbelievable. Goodbye Lebanon, I’m sure these ” negotiations will end well for you.

Icarus Tanović

We all have seen many negotations mediated by America how they end up for weaker side.
Fuck America, and fuck theirs meditations.
Why noy Russian/Iran/Chinese meditations?
America is going down.

Jim Allen

Lebanon is not the “weaker side since the Western puppet Government resigned in Lebanon. I can think of no better leader for Lebanon than Nasrallah. Lebanon will grow, and prosper without Western interference in it’s Government. Hezbollah is wildly popular with the people. Should the militia become the Government of Lebanon, it’s predictable, trade, and military alliances with countries that as militia could not gain.
Currently, Israel is not prepared to go to war against Hezbollah.
These negotiations with the fake State of Israel, will change nothing, the pretenders will continue to plough on in the same arrogant sociopath, lunatic manner it has for it’s short, and temporary existence.
I think Hezbollah is not fooled by pretender antics.

Jens Holm

Every single line and letter in this is lie. Very impresssing.

Not even small children with candy in ´botrh hands told by Grandmothers and Fathers will belive any of that.

Yoy must be a realtive to Kafka:)

Icarus Tanović

That is right my friend. No other party is more popular than Hezbollah across middle east. Amongst all Arabs, all Muslims or Christians or anyone else for that manner.

Jimmy Jim

DID SOMEONE MENTION GAS? KIKERS!

Jens Holm

Maybee You should wonder why the Russians themself or Lebanon or Syria has no contacted Israel for it. Russia is nearbye and has good relations to Israel.

Doing absolutly nothing is doing something very much.

You could send a letter to Putin and Lavrov and ask if they would not be a helping hand too.

disqus_W1eFsMfKhi

Let’s face it…the freak occupiers have no authority to claim anything let alone negotiate. They came late on the scene ILLEGALLY, and for that “get tf out”. Just when did the freak honker occupiers ever negotiate? All they do is TAKE what isn’t theirs. Stolen Heights, Al Quds and Palestine…the lies they use to justify their disgusting holohoax existance. Death to isreal now and forever…bombing them completely in my thoughts and prayers. DO NOT NEGOTIATE WITH THE ENEMY BECAUSE HE WILL STAB YOU, KICK YOU AND OCCUPY YOU. NEVER FORGET!

Jens Holm

Why even listen to someone like You.

There probatly only is a sniffer in that triangle buts it important for all having not much. The best map among many is this: https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/57a6678824d3b4e4cd9692ed0667940c3f301fcbff63cbf64adc5275ff2fc35f.jpg

verner

as per usual the jews put forward a claim that is untenable under the accepted rules governing demarkation of borderlines in the sea and force the other side to the table under the auspices of a third party. and by force of the latter attempt to secure rights they have no legal right to. it started already during speing when pompeo visitedlebanon to discuss right of way for israel over lebanon’s seabed, was turned down where on the problems started, ammonium nitrate explosion (no doubt set off by the jews through mossad) border skirmishes with hezbollah and so on, orchestrated by the jews in cooperation with the the disunited states of A. more at stake than the 860 sq km since the jews desperately need lebanon’s seabed for the pipeline the jews want to have to ship the stolen palestinian gas to europe.that is the stake and the jews must be turned down right away.

Chris Chuba

“US-mediated negotiations”

Oh yeah, that’s going to be fair. In other words, Lebanon will have to beg for crumbs against two adversaries when they are in their weakest economic position they have been in for decades. At least they didn’t say ‘arbitrated’ but the politicians will still sell Lebanon out.

Win/Win for US/Israel, either Israel gets all of the booty or Hezbollah scuttles the sell out and is then blamed for being religious fanatics who refuse to negotiate w/Jews even their own country desperately needs a settlement. The U.S. will give Israel everything but then promise to compensate Lebanon by giving them loans / aid with lots of strings attached.

verner

sure pompeo tried to bait the lebanese in his spring visit re access to lebanese seabed for israel, with weapons to lebanon, not of the latest model but still reasonably modern and in good condition. it’s all about the gas pipeline from uae/saudi and israel through to europe which require access to the lebanese seabed. and not surprisingly, shortly after having been turned down, the unrest in beirut started, the explosion u s w.

Chris Chuba

Mint condition M1 Garand’s and M1 Carbines, collectors love them :-)
The M1 was a lot nicer to sling around than the bolt action Springfield that it replaced.