Direct negotiations with “Israel” before the elections

It seems that the “illusions” of Washington and Tel Aviv are saturated with hopes towards the Lebanese arena, not only regarding the formation of the new government to align with the interests of the enemy, but also regarding the seizure of oil and gas. Lebanese, which Israel claims to be entitled to. The wishes of both parties reached the point of “a common belief” that direct negotiations between Lebanon and the occupation could begin, before the US elections.

The US effort is focused on finding a direct negotiation channel between the two sides, agreeing on the purely economic water boundaries and dividing the “disputed area” over it, as “conditions in Lebanon have become favorable”, in contrast to what they were in the past.
Senior Israeli and US officials said yesterday, in separate conversations with the Hebrew website “Walla,” that the US administration’s goal is to achieve direct negotiations before the presidential elections next November, “which is a great political achievement for the president. Donald Trump “. In addition to resolving the maritime border dispute, no direct political negotiations have taken place between the two parties for 30 years.
But what prompts the US administration to hope this time that the political will of the Lebanese side can be imposed? The report indicates that conditions have turned favorable in recent weeks, particularly after the catastrophic explosion in the port of Beirut, and in relation to the repercussions of the economic crisis in Lebanon, in addition to internal criticism from the Lebanese parts of Hezbollah. , factors that led the US administration to resume its efforts to initiate negotiations between the two countries.
To this end, Israeli sources indicate, US Undersecretary of State David Schenker visited Israel this week and met with Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz, who is in charge of the maritime border dossier on behalf of the Israeli government, and also met with the new Foreign Minister, Gabi Ashkenazi, whose office is a partner in ongoing contacts. ».
A senior Israeli official told the “Walla” website that Schenker’s recent visit to Lebanon was devoted to holding talks with ministers and senior officials of the transitional government there, to reach an understanding on a formula that would allow negotiations to begin. with Israel.
According to the same sources, Schenker informed the two ministers, Steinitz and Ashkenazi, after their return from Beirut, about the content of their talks with the Lebanese side, and presented them with an updated draft of a document of principles to start negotiations. Israeli officials indicated that “the impression that formed in Israel after Schenker’s return is that there is flexibility on the Lebanese side, and that they are more willing than in the past to start negotiations on the issue with Israel.”
An Israeli official, in an interview with Walla.com, referred to the “progress that is being made” and said: “We see that the Lebanese side has the desire to move forward and we see that they realize that the time has come to solve the problem”. He noted that “Israel is ready to start serious negotiations, and expects this to happen before the end of 2020.”

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