Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Aug 22, 2025

Lebanon reviews US proposal to demarcate maritime borders with Israel

Lebanon reviews US proposal to demarcate maritime borders with Israel

The US ambassador to Lebanon on Saturday delivered a maritime border demarcation proposal to President Michel Aoun, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

“Things seem very positive,” Ambassador Dorothy Shea said after separate meetings with the three men.

Shea presented a written message from Amos Hochstein, the US mediator in the indirect negotiations between Lebanon and Israel on the demarcation issue.

A technical team is expected to discuss the content of Hochstein’s 10-page proposal before Lebanon submits an official response next week.

A copy of the proposal was also referred to the Lebanese Army Command for review.

Aoun is keen to resolve the demarcation issue before his six-year term concludes at the end of the month. If the US proposal is approved, an agreement might be signed by the middle of the month.

After Aoun’s initial talks with Berri and Mikati, the three men are expected to meet next week to formulate their response.

Hochstein had promised to present a formula that would bring the points of view closer, especially over the land point from which the line originates, as Lebanon insists on amending it due to the violation of its territorial waters before reaching the exclusive economic zone.

Lebanon has so far rejected every Israeli attempt to establish the “line of buoys” that Israel adheres to as if it were the land border line with Lebanon. Lebanon meanwhile believes that it (the disputed block) lies within Lebanese territorial waters and refuses to discuss the matter.

Legal expert Christina Abi Haidar told Arab News: “Giving up the demarcation from the land, specifically from Ras Al-Naqoura, would mean that the adoption of Line 29 to demarcate the border has inevitably fallen, and we will likely have to share the blocks with Israel.”

Iran-backed Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah had warned against any Israeli exploration and extraction in the disputed blocks before Lebanon gains its full rights in the waters.

Aoun formed a team made up of legal, technical and administrative experts to review the content of Hochstein’s offer. As well as Berri and Mikati, the consultations are also likely to involve the Hezbollah leadership, which is awaiting Lebanon’s official position.

Israel is keen to complete the demarcation of the maritime borders so it can take steps to extract gas from the Karish field, and especially as the negotiations are being exploited in its parliamentary elections.

French company Total is also awaiting the deal so it can launch its program for exploration operations in the Lebanese fields in accordance with the agreements in force with the Ministry of Energy.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported on Saturday that Israeli security staff will ratify the border demarcation agreement with Lebanon next week.

But energy expert Diana Qaisi told Arab News that the matter was still unclear.

“The Lebanese state is required to inform the public of the Israeli offer,” she said. “They say that the demarcation of the land point from which the sea demarcation line will start is postponed until the land border is demarcated, which means that the dispute has not yet been resolved. It was rather pushed to a later stage.”

Also on Saturday, the French Foreign Ministry stressed the importance of Lebanon electing a new president before Oct. 31.

A ministry spokesman said Lebanese leaders “must be up to the task, which requires unity and taking the necessary measures to end the crisis.”

French Army Chief of Staff Gen. Thierry Burkhard, who is in Beirut, met Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between the two armies.

Burkhard praised the role played by the Lebanese military in maintaining security and stability in the country.

He also reiterated France’s support for the Lebanese army, in terms of providing emergency aid and developing its operational capabilities, and its commitment to participating in the UNIFIL peacekeeping forces.

For his part, Gen. Aoun said the Lebanese army remained cohesive and able to protect the nation and its people.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Trump Backs Putin’s Land-for-Peace Proposal Amid Kyiv’s Rejection
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
United States Sells Luxury Yacht Amadea, Valued at Approximately $325 Million, in First Sale of a Seized Russian Yacht Since the Invasion of Ukraine
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Germany Seeks Taliban Deal to Deport Afghan Migrants
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×