Israel hails ‘historic achievement’ of sea border deal with Lebanon

Yair Lapid has hailed a new deal to demarcate Israel’s sea border with Lebanon as a “historic achievement”.

The two countries are understood to have reached an agreement after months of negotiations brokered by the United States.

If confirmed by Lebanon, it would be a landmark moment in relations between two countries that have been bitter enemies for decades and are technically still at war.

Lapid, the Israeli prime minister, called it an “historic achievement that will strengthen Israel’s security, inject billions into Israel’s economy, and ensure the stability of our northern border.”

The agreement is expected to allow both countries to drill and produce natural gas in their parts of the Mediterranean Sea.

The Israeli security cabinet will meet on Wednesday to discuss the deal. Consultations are also underway between Lebanon’s president Michel Aoun, the country’s caretaker government and senior officials.

A statement tweeted by Aoun’s office said that it hoped “the agreement on the demarcation will be announced as soon as possible”.

It added: “The final version of the offer satisfies Lebanon, meets its demands and preserves its rights to its natural wealth.

“President Aoun will hold the necessary consultations on this national issue in preparation for the official announcement of the unified national position.”