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The official broadcaster quoted an Israeli source familiar with the second round, which ended Thursday, of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon on the demarcation of maritime borders between them, saying “the chances of success are not great.”
The source noted that “negotiations will continue next month, but the Lebanese side took a provocative step, when it presented a map in which the borders extended further south, compared to the map that Lebanon presented to the United Nations ago. ten years”.
He added that “Israel presented a map that pushed the borders further north, based on a set of justifications and evidence,” and noted that “Israel did not present this map as a requirement, as it respects the line drawn by the United Nations.” and asked the Lebanese side to return to the original disputed line. And find no new differences.
It should be noted that the second round of negotiations on the demarcation of the borders between Lebanon and Israel took place on Thursday, October 29 at the United Nations Center in Naqoura in southern Lebanon, in the presence of the American mediator, and it was agreed perform the third round on November 11.
This contrasts with what the US embassy in Beirut expressed its hope that the Lebanese-Israeli negotiations on the demarcation of the maritime borders will lead to “a long-awaited solution” in this matter.
It should be noted that, on October 14, the first round of negotiations began to demarcate the maritime borders between Lebanon and Israel, under the auspices of the United Nations and US mediation.
Lebanon fought a conflict with Israel over an area of the Mediterranean, amounting to about 860 square kilometers, known as Block No. 9, rich in oil and gas, and Beirut announced, in January 2016, the launch of its first round of exploration licenses.
According to the official Lebanese news agency, the Lebanese delegation to the negotiations included the Deputy Chief of Operations Staff, Brigadier General Bassam Yassin as president, Colonel Mazen Basbous, and the expert on border disputes between countries, Najib Masih, in addition to a member of the board of administration of the oil sector and February Wissam.
The Israeli delegation was led by the Director General of the Ministry of Energy, Udi Adiri, and its members included Reuven Azar, the diplomatic adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the director of the Department of International Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Amit Hoeman, and the international expert on border issues Haim Sarfarro, who previously held the position of Director General of the Center. Survey of Israel Maps “, in addition to other personalities.
The negotiations were led by Jan Kubi, assistant to the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, in the presence of the US mediator, Ambassador Jean Derucher.
The Lebanese News Agency also indicated that “the Lebanese delegation was carrying (at the beginning of today’s meetings) convincing maps and documents showing points of disagreement and the Israeli enemy’s invasion of the Lebanese right to annex part of Block 9.”
The agency added: “This matter is contrary to the law of the sea and will be discussed at the negotiating table, as the Lebanese negotiating party adheres to Lebanon’s rights to each water point without compromise,” which appears to have angered Israel, according to the source of the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation.
