Trump is racing to achieve … negotiations between “Israel” and Lebanon?

It seems that the president of the United States, Donald Trump, is running the days that remain before the end of his presidential term, to consolidate his achievements, which he forms with the “man of peace” who seeks to protect the common interests between countries and appease the confrontation and conflict, but it is a policy that is subject to another principle that Trump has abused, which is sanctions.

After the signing of the “peace” agreement between the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and “Israel” in the White House, and Trump’s announcement that other countries, up to 7 or 8 Arab countries, seek to conclude agreements with “Israel” Trump seems excited about the announcement before the end of October. On the start of negotiations between Lebanon and “Israel” on maritime borders.

High-ranking Israeli and US sources informed the Israeli website “Wah” that the Trump administration “is pressing for the resumption of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon regarding the demarcation of economic waters between them”, provided that the negotiations be direct, and “this has not happened 30 years ago.” At the very least, what would be considered a “major political achievement” for the Trump administration, according to political affairs commentator Barack Rapid.

US Undersecretary of State David Schenker leads the White House’s efforts to reach an agreement between “Israel” and Lebanon on the demarcation of economic waters and the resolution of the dispute over gas exploration in the Mediterranean, with greater efforts, since the explosion of the port of Beirut in August, when Lebanon needed The search for economic resources can be secured by the discovery of gas in the economic zone of southern Lebanon.

In early September, Schenker visited Beirut and announced to reporters that ongoing talks with Washington to demarcate the maritime borders between Lebanon and “Israel” were making “gradual progress”, expressing his hope to return to Lebanon and “sign this deal in the coming weeks. “

Two weeks after his unofficial visit to Beirut, the Deputy Foreign Minister headed for Israel, where he met with Prime Minister-appointed Minister of Energy Yuval Steinitz on this issue, and met with the Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, whose ministry is involved in the contacts.

The “Wallah” website quoted a senior Israeli official as saying that this visit “was part of the round of dialogue that Schenker conducted in recent weeks between Beirut and Jerusalem, in an attempt to move the process,” adding that the Israeli government “is ready to start sitting down and seriously negotiating, and we hope that will happen.” Before the end of 2020 “.

Schenker told Steinitz and Ashkenazi what happened during their talks in Lebanon, and presented them with a draft of the principles document in order to start negotiations, according to the same website, which confirmed that there is an impression after this visit by Israeli officials. , that “there is flexibility on the part of Lebanon, and that now they are more prepared.” Than before to enter into contacts on the subject with Israel. “

However, according to Israeli sources, the problem that is still pending is “mediation” in the negotiations. Lebanon demanded that the Americans, as well as the United Nations, be the mediators in the talks, but “Israel” for its part refused and demanded that the United Nations be simply a host.

There were no Lebanese comments on this matter, but Hezbollah had previously announced, more than once, its lack of confidence in US mediation, as well as direct negotiations. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah confirmed in February 2018 that “the American is Israel’s lawyer,” so don’t count on this. Mediation, and they want the interest of “Israel” and not the interest of Lebanon. There is no American mediation, rather there are dictates and threats to Lebanon. “