Lebanon agrees to maritime border talks with Israel
The announcement, called a 'vital step forward' follows more than a decade of indirect contacts over the issue
Lebanon has agreed to negotiate with Israel on the dispute over the maritime border of the two Middle Eastern countries.
The announcement Thursday by Nabih Berri, the speaker of Lebanon’s parliament, follows more than a decade of indirect contacts over the issue.
The United States will mediate the talks, which will be held under the auspices of the United Nations. The U.S. State Department in a statement called the development “historic” and a “vital step forward.”
The talks will be limited to the demarcation of a maritime border and do not extend to normalisation, The New York Times reported. Earlier this year, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrein normalised their relations with Israel. Egypt and Jordan have had diplomatic relations with Israel dating back decades.
Lebanon has refused to recognise Israel as a legitimate partner for negotiations on civilian matters. It adopted the policy after 1983, when the government canceled a peace accord that Lebanon had signed with Israel months earlier.
The dispute is over 330 square miles of the Mediterranean. Israel in recent years has been extracting large quantities of natural gas in its maritime territory. Additional deposits may lie within Lebanon’s economic zone, but the absence of a clearly demarcated internationally agreed upon border is complicating exploration efforts there.
Lebanon’s currency has lost 80% of its value against the dollar over the past year, with poverty and unemployment rising.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
