Negotiations to demarcate maritime borders between Lebanon and Israel begin today



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Source: Dubai – Al Arabiya channel

The Israeli-Lebanese negotiations are expected to begin today Wednesday at the United Nations headquarters in the Naqoura region to demarcate the maritime borders between the two countries, in the presence of the United States of America and the United Nations.

US Under Secretary of State for Near East Affairs David Schenker arrived in Beirut on Tuesday to attend border demarcation negotiations, which Lebanese politicians described as the first step toward normalization under the cover of Hezbollah.

A UN vehicle in the Naqoura area on the border between Lebanon and Israel A UN vehicle in the Naqoura area on the border between Lebanon and Israel

Lebanon and Israel announced earlier this month that an understanding had been reached to begin negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations at its headquarters in the border city of Naqoura, in a step that Washington described as “historic” between two countries in state of war.

For its part, the Lebanese presidency announced yesterday that the face-to-face negotiations with Israel are not about an international treaty, normalization or recognition of Israel.

Israeli officials said an agreement on the demarcation of the maritime borders was likely to be reached in weeks or months if Lebanese representatives arrived with a positive and practical approach.

Before the talks began, Hezbollah and Amal announced their rejection of the presence of non-military personnel in the Lebanese delegation and demanded that the Beirut delegation be reconstituted.

According to the US State Department, David Schenker will lead the opening session of the negotiations, and former US Ambassador John Dorscher will be a mediator and participate in all rounds of talks between the two parties.

It should be noted that the Lebanese delegation is made up of 4 members: soldiers, an oil official and a border expert, while the Israeli delegation is headed by the Minister of Energy, Yuval Steinitz.

It is noteworthy that the dispute with Israel centers on 964 square kilometers in territorial waters and 13 land points.



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