Israel, Lebanon to return to maritime border talks on Tuesday
The talks will take place at the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) base in Naquora, near Rosh Hanikra, with US mediation, as they did in October and November of 2020.
By LAHAV HARKOVA MILITARY OBSERVATION tower overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and part of the maritime border with Lebanon, near Rosh Hanikra in northern Israel, in 2020.(photo credit: AMMAR AWAD/REUTERS)
Israel and Lebanon plan to resume negotiations on their maritime border on Tuesday, after talks broke down last year.The talks will take place, with US mediation, at the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) base in Naquora, near Rosh Hanikra, as they did in October and November of 2020.Energy Ministry Director-General Udi Adiri will lead the Israeli delegation, which also includes high-level representatives of the Foreign Ministry and IDF.“The goal of the delegation in the meetings,” Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz’s spokesman said, “is to examine the possibility of reaching an agreement on setting the maritime border between the countries and to find a solution that will allow for the development of natural resources in the region for the welfare of residents of the region.”Jerusalem and Beirut entered negotiations in October for the first time in 30 years, holding four meetings before talks stopped.The border dispute is about a triangular area of the Mediterranean Sea that starts at the countries’ land border, and is 5-6 km. wide on average. The area constitutes about 2% of Israel’s economic waters.During last year’s negotiations, Lebanon upped its demand with a line extending much further south, increasing the disputed area from about 860 sq.km. to 2,300 sq.km.Two weeks ago, Lebanese Public Works and Transportation Minister Michel Najjar announced that the greater demands would be submitted to the UN, but Lebanese President Michel Aoun stopped the process.Israel drew its own map in response to Lebanon’s increased demands, claiming more than double the area of the Mediterranean Sea that is currently in dispute. The map was first published by The Jerusalem Post last week.The Energy Ministry only planned to use the map if Lebanon moves forward with submitting its new position to the UN.
