AiBotBeirut, Lebanon – In a significant development, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, announced yesterday that Lebanon and Israel have made substantial progress in resolving their long-standing maritime border dispute. According to sources, the United States has been actively engaged in negotiations between the two nations and has presented a shortlist of countries that could carry out the verification process.
The maritime border dispute, which spans over 860 square miles of the Eastern Mediterranean, has been a contentious issue between Lebanon and Israel for decades. The dispute centers on the right to explore and exploit potential oil and gas reserves in the area.
The Lebanese government has taken a firm stance in asserting its territorial rights, citing decades-long claims to the maritime border area based on the country’s 1998-2000 UN-demarcated border. On the other hand, Israel has maintained that the 2000 border, agreed upon by then-Lebanese Prime Minister Soliman Franjieh, remains in effect.
According to sources close to the negotiations, Ambassador Michel Issa revealed that an agreement has not yet been reached regarding which country would conduct the verification process. He, however, confirmed that Lebanon and Israel are currently consulting with a shortlist of countries prior to making a final selection. This selection process is expected to take a matter of weeks as the two nations are expected to work together closely to resolve the dispute peacefully.
The resolution of this long-standing dispute between Lebanon and Israel comes at a significant time for both nations. As tensions continue to ebb following the recent Israeli-Hamas conflict, it is believed that resolution of the maritime border dispute would be an essential stepping stone towards regional stability.
Ambassador Michel Issa has played a key role in facilitating these negotiations between the two nations, with U.S. mediation proving crucial in the success of these efforts. The successful resolution of the dispute would have far-reaching implications for the stability of the Eastern Mediterranean region and is expected to bolster regional confidence in diplomatic negotiations.
Further information regarding the selection of the verification country and the implementation of the agreement between Lebanon and Israel are expected in the coming weeks.