Lebanon seeks to revive maritime border negotiations with Israel
Israel and Lebanon are locked in a historic maritime border dispute that has been deadlocked since US-mediated talks were postponed last November without a new date. Israel has accused Lebanon of changing its position on the maritime border limitation on too many occasions.
Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon began in October, with the two delegations meeting at a UN base, aimed at resolving a dispute over their maritime borders that has delayed hydrocarbon exploration in a potentially gas-rich area. The disputed area is an area of 860 square kilometres, which both countries claim lies within their respective Exclusive Economic Zones.
Israel and Lebanon are officially at war and have severed all diplomatic ties. The land border has been a scene of conflict for some time now. The two countries have been negotiating for months over their respective areas. Lebanon is demanding an additional 1,430 square kilometres (552 square miles) further south, which includes part of Israel's Karish gas field, according to Lebanese energy expert Laury Haytayan.
These negotiations were described as "historic" by former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. However, from the outset, both Lebanese and Israeli officials have downplayed any hope that these talks could be the beginning of a peace process or a normalisation of relations between the two countries.
After months of silence on these talks, Lebanese President Michel Aoun announced in June that he hoped to continue indirect negotiations with Israel, mediated by the US, on the demarcation of the maritime border. Aoun expressed this desire during a meeting with John Desrocher, head of the US delegation mediating the indirect border talks between Lebanon and Israel.
Aoun recently re-emphasised the maritime border dispute and expressed his hope to resume border demarcation negotiations with Israel "without preconditions". This request came during a meeting between the Lebanese president and the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka.
During the meeting, Aoun stressed that "Lebanon, which is committed to the implementation of Resolution 1701, wants the extension of the international forces operating in the south (UNIFIL) without any modification to the mission, given the role it has played with the Lebanese army in maintaining stability in the region since 2006". The Lebanese president also pointed out that the permanent coordination between UNIFIL and the Lebanese army is a "guarantee to avoid any problem or accident with the population", expressing his hope for the resumption of indirect negotiations with Israel to demarcate the southern maritime borders "without preconditions in the interest of the parties involved".
In the same vein, Wronecka informed President Aoun that the UN Security Council will meet on 22 July to present the regular report on Resolution 1701. The Security Council meeting will also address the situation in Lebanon, as well as political, economic and social developments.
