For many years, Lebanon has been refusing to negotiate with Israel over the maritime border between the two countries, leaving a swath of about 1000 square kilometers in dispute in the natural-gas rich Mediterranean.
Last year Lebanon made noises that it would allow the UN to help mediate the dispute, but that effort went nowhere.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri reportedly will announce the framework agreement representing the basis for the launch of indirect negotiations with Israel on demarcating the land and maritime borders, under the auspices of the United Nations and American mediation, al-Akhbar daily reported Thursday.
A high-ranking American delegation led by David Schenker will arrive in Beirut in mid October to start negotiations, it said.
The maritime border is fully within areas controlled by Hezbollah. This means that the main obstacle to these negotiations, Iran, is becoming less relevant in Lebanon in the wake of the public anger at the Beirut explosion.
Allowing the US to lead the mediation efforts is what is truly stunning, though. It indicates not only a weakening of Iranian influence over Lebanon bit a tentative willingness to acknowledge the US role in creating a new Middle East as seen by the US-brokered Abraham Accords.
There are obvious advantages to Lebanon to end this dispute. Any natural gas fields found in Lebanon's waters would be a bonanza for Lebanon's wrecked economy. That has always been true, but up until now Lebanon's position seems to have been that anything that also benefits Israel must never be done even if it is good for Lebanon as well - classic win/lose thinking of the honor/shame psyche. In the new Middle East, such thinking is quickly going from mainstream to distasteful.
Commenters on Naharnet are very cynical towards their Lebanese leaders:
phillipo
Direct, indirect, what difference does it make. In the end some agreement on the sea borders will be reached and signatures of Lebanese and Israeli officials will appear on the same document.
So why can't this happen on a land border agreement?
thepatriot
It is about time. The world is moving forward, our neighbors are moving forward, and we keep moving backwards, and towards darkness...
I pray that we demarcate those borders, and end up Ebola's [Hezbollah - EoZ] pathetic excuse of a "Resistance"..
We have lots of ideas, but we need more resources to be even more effective. Please donate today to help get the message out and to help defend Israel.
This blog may be a labor of love for me, but it takes a lot of effort, time and money. For 20 years and 40,000 articles I have been providing accurate, original news that would have remained unnoticed. I've written hundreds of scoops and sometimes my reporting ends up making a real difference. I appreciate any donations you can give to keep this blog going.
The editorialised portrayal of a BBC contributor
-
BBC News website coverage of the 2024 US election has included reports by
the BBC Jerusalem bureau’s Lucy Williamson. One of those reports –...
The post ...
Michael Oren: The Altneu Antisemitism: Part II
-
[image: Michael Oren: The Altneu Antisemitism: Part II] Michael Oren: The
Altneu Antisemitism: Part II IsraelSeen.com
Michael Oren: The Altneu Antisemitism...
Jews ‘treated horribly’ in 19th century Morocco
-
The indefatigable blogger Elder of Ziyon has been delving into his archive.
He has found testimonies from European travellers which bear witness to the
s...
Censor the Internet to Save the Planet
-
“Governments Should Act Now to Curb Climate Disinformation” demands a
letter backed by Greenpeace, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Center
for Count...
A Friend Indeed
-
[image: Dry Bones cartoon, Trump, MAGA, President, Jerusalem, Embassy,
America, Huckabee,]
Welcome Ambassador Huckabee!
* * * And *IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO MAK...
▶ What Is the Crisis at CBS News?
-
View this post on Instagram A post shared by HonestReporting
(@honestreporting) From employing a Gaza producer with terror ties to
forcing journalists ...
An open letter to the police and CPS
-
To the police and CPS. With reference to complaints made by Gabriel
Kanter-Webber about Rupert Nathan. I understand that the matter has now
been referred...
7 Biggest Dungeons In Elder Scrolls Games
-
Please verify your email address. Labyrinthian in Skyrim is a maze of
Nordic ruins with fiends to battle and treasures to find. Sundercliff Watch
in Oblivi...
Gaza: A Brief Modern History Outline
-
Pre-1917 - Gaza part of the Ottoman Empire
1917 - Gaza conquered by British Army and subsequently becomes part of
Mandate Palestine
1948 - Gaza conquere...
One Choice: Fight to Win
-
Yesterday Israel preempted a potentially disastrous attack by Hezbollah on
the center of the country. Thirty minutes before launch time, our aircraft
destr...
Yom Hashoah 5784 – 2024
-
Israel’s Yom Hashoah began at sundown this evening with the annual ceremony
at Yad Vashem with torches lit in memory of the 6 million Jewish victims of
the...
Closing Jews Down Under Website
-
With a heavyish heart I am closing down the website after ten years.
It is and it isn’t an easy decision after 10 years of constant work. The
past...
‘Test & Trace’ is a mirage
-
Lockdown II thoughts: Day 1 Opposition politicians have been banging on
about the need for a ‘working’ Test & Trace system even more loudly than
the govern...