An Israeli reading of the maritime talks with Lebanon: the road appears blocked

About two months after the start of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in an attempt to resolve a dispute over the maritime borders, it appears that the two sides have reached a dead end that may prevent the completion of the oil exploration process and gas, according to the Israeli newspaper “Haaretz”.

Israel links the paralysis of the negotiations for what it described as the “rigid approach” of Lebanon, which suffers the greatest economic crisis in its history, and counts on accelerating the necessary measures for gas exploration in the Mediterranean.

The newspaper ruled out the possibility of completing the talks outside the negotiating table and informally, for two reasons, the first is “fear of any appearance of normalization”, and the second is “the emerging corona virus pandemic.”

Disputed area

Regarding the point of disagreement, the newspaper clarified that the area of ​​the disputed area is 850 square kilometers (about 2 percent of Israeli economic waters), and has the shape of a triangle, which contains gas reserves, that is, Lebanon.

And he considered that the method to determine the mathematical criteria in border demarcation negotiations is complex and unclear and requires a thorough knowledge of international treaties and agreements, and it is likely that a Lebanese-Israeli agreement will not be reached in the absence of borders. between the two parties.

The newspaper added that land borders between Lebanon and Israel were established on the basis of the armistice agreements in 1949, and the Sykes-Picot Line established by French and British officials in 1923.

Controversial points
He revealed that the moral point is a 30-meter gap in the UNIFIL area, which is located at the corner of the line, and neither Israel nor Lebanon could come to an agreement on this.

I mentioned that informal negotiations began between each of the two parties in 2013. At that time, the Lebanese side added another point of disagreement represented by another 1,450 km, which means owning half of the Israeli gas tank called “Krish”. At the time, the United States proposed a proposal to divide the region almost evenly, 55 percent for Lebanon and 45 percent for Israel, but it failed in its efforts.

The newspaper concluded by saying that Israel is finding it very difficult to explain the Lebanese position and understand its layout of the maritime lines, hoping that Lebanon’s position to start negotiations is aimed solely at satisfying the US administration.