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Yesterday, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz welcomed Lebanon’s “positive voices” open to peace with “Israel,” ahead of the resumption of unprecedented talks on maritime borders between the two countries..
Lebanon and “Israel”, which are technically still at war, held an initial round of negotiations over their disputed maritime borders under the auspices of the United Nations and the United States on October 14..
The talks, which resume on Wednesday, are a rare official interaction between countries that do not have diplomatic relations..
Both sides insist that they are strictly focused on resolving the maritime dispute to allow for oil and gas exploration, and it is not a step towards normalization..
During his tour of northern “Israel”, Gantz said: “I hear positive voices coming from Lebanon, including talking about peace with” Israel “, from those who work with us on issues such as defining maritime borders.“.
Gantz, who is also the deputy prime minister of “Israel,” did not specify the Lebanese comments he was referring to..
But his comments came a day after Claudine Aoun, daughter of Lebanese President Michel Aoun, told Al-Jadid TV that peace with “Israel” would be possible if the problems between the two countries were resolved..
She said: “We have the maritime border dispute, the Palestinian refugee issue and another important issue, which is the issue of natural resources: water, oil and natural gas that Lebanon depends on to boost its economy.”“.
When asked directly if he would oppose a peace treaty with “Israel,” he replied, “Why am I opposed?“
He added: “Are we supposed to stay in a state of war? … I have no ideological differences with anyone … I have political differences.”“.
The Shiite group Hezbollah, a major force in Lebanese politics, criticized the maritime talks..
The last time “Israel” and Hezbollah fought a war in 2006, but the two sides continue to sporadically exchange fire across the border..
Gantz’s remarks came as “Israel” deepened its Arab relations through a series of agreements negotiated by the United States..
The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have established diplomatic relations with the Jewish state, in violation of decades of Arab League consensus against normalization with “Israel” until the Palestinian conflict is resolved..
Sudan said it also intends to establish full diplomatic relations with “Israel.”.
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Original address: Israel’s Gantz praises Lebanon’s ‘positive voices’
Author: Editorial Committee
Source: AFP
Date: October 27, 2020
