And they started to discuss, again
Unfinished business
Last June 5th, 2022, tensions among Israel and Lebanon restarted. The source of this tension is the Karish gas field. This gas field is considered by Israel as a part of its exclusive economic zone. Israel is currently exploring this field, located in an 860 square km, in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea.
Gas reserves have been discovered in the zone recently. Besides this, Israel sees an opportunity in this in the midst of the Ukrainian crisis; since many European countries are looking for alternatives for Russian gas.
The tensions were revived when that day, a gas producing unit arrived to a maritime zone disputed by both countries. This unit belongs to the energetic company, Energean. Michel Aoun, Lebanon´s President, warned against any Israeli aggression. By this, he means exploration, drilling, or extraction. It is quite important to mention that borders between both countries were never delimited.
Both Aoun, and Najib Mikati, Lebanon´s Prime Minister, invited Amos Hochstein, to mediate between them. Hochstein is the US envoy in charge of mediating between them. On the other side, Israeli Defense Minister also thinks the dispute will be solved with US mediation. Hochstein will arrive to Beirut between June 13th and 14th. It is expected his mediation will manage to reach an agreement of border delimitation.
Amos Hochstein, the US envoy for mediation between Israel and Lebanon. Source: Twitter @Marlenekhalife
Israel and Lebanon resumed dialogue back in October 2020, with an agreed framework for the talks. However, this was canceled when Beirut claimed additional 820 more square kilometers in the south. Despite this, both countries have shown interest in renewing talks. Hundreds of people protested against Israeli drills in Lebanon.
Guillermo is a journalist, writer and independent international analyst. If you like what you read, please support him by donating:
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