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A spokesman for the US State Department confirmed to Al Hurra TV: “The issue of demarcation of the border is a decision to be made by Israel and Lebanon, while the United States remains committed to mediation and facilitation at the request of both parties. “.
Gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean rekindles hopes for an economic transformation that could bring the countries of this region closer together, but at the same time increases tension and sparks latent disagreements as these countries rush to reclaim their actions.
Negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, mediated by the United States, continue to resolve a dispute over the delimitation of maritime borders, which is related to Block No. 9.
Lebanon and Israel are officially in a state of war, and Lebanon witnessed in 2006 a bloody war between Israel and Hezbollah that lasted 33 days, during which 1,200 people died in Lebanon, most of them civilians, and 160 Israelis, the most of them soldiers.
What is the history of this dispute?
Lebanon divides the maritime zone, which supposedly contains gas and oil, into ten blocks, four regions, of which are adjacent to the territorial waters of Cyprus, which also seeks to be an actor in the energy sector.
In 2018, the Lebanese government signed contracts for the first time with three international companies, namely Total from France, Eni from Italy and Novatek from Russia, to explore for oil and gas in two areas in regional waters, despite the tension with Israel by the Defendant in Block No. 9.
Block No. 9
Block 9 includes a marine area covering about 860 square kilometers, according to a map sent in 2011 to the United Nations.
However, Lebanon subsequently considered that it was based on erroneous estimates.
During the negotiation sessions, Lebanon demands an additional area of 1,430 square kilometers, including part of the “Karish” field in which the Greek company “Energian” operates.
Laurie Haitien, director of the Institute for the Governance of Natural Resources in the Middle East and North Africa, told AFP that both countries had entered the stage of the “war of maps”, in which Lebanon relies on the principle of demanding the maximum that can be obtained under the roof of international law and the law of the sea.
Enter into negotiations
In 2019, the two parties agreed to negotiate the demarcation of the maritime border, with the United Nations and the United States to intervene as mediators.
Last February, a drillship belonging to the French company “Total” arrived in the “exclusive economic zone” of Lebanon to begin the first exploration works for oil and gas in territorial waters.
Excavation has started in the area of Block No. 4 and Lebanon wants to continue exploration in Block 9, which will be within the assigned limits, and no drilling will be carried out in the area in dispute with Israel.
Last April, Lebanon announced that it had found gas in the first exploration well, which was drilled to a depth of 1,500 meters, but was not economically viable.
In October, 3 rounds of negotiations, described as “fruitful”, took place at the headquarters of the United Nations force in Naqoura, each session lasting approximately one hour.
Postponement of negotiations
A spokesman for the US State Department confirmed to Al-Hurra TV on Monday that it is entirely up to Lebanon and Israel to decide the right framework and timing for the ongoing negotiations on the demarcation of maritime borders.
The spokesman said: “The border issue is a decision for Israel and Lebanon to make, while the United States remains committed to mediation and facilitation at the request of both parties.”
Military sources confirmed to the organizations that the Lebanese side had officially informed the postponement of the negotiations to demarcate the maritime border, which was scheduled for December 2.
Sources told Agence France-Presse that US diplomat John DeRoucher, who plays the role of facilitator in the sessions, will come to Beirut at the time of the session, which was scheduled for Wednesday at a base of the Interim Force of the United Nations in southern Lebanon in the Naqoura border region.
“During which discussions can be completed or common ground can be attempted,” he added.
The Lebanese announcement came after Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz on 20 this month accused Lebanon of “changing its position on its maritime borders with Israel seven times,” warning that the talks would reach an “alley. No Exit”.
He said in a tweet: “Whoever wants prosperity in our region and seeks to safely develop natural resources must adhere to the principle of stability and resolve the dispute on the basis of what Israel and Lebanon have deposited with the United Nations.”
The Lebanese presidency denied the Israeli accusation, stating that Beirut’s position is “firm” on the issue of demarcation.
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