Israel Lebanon Starts talks on the ocean border Gas field development speculation also October 15 10:27
For many years, conflicting Israeli and Lebanon have begun talks to demarcate ocean boundaries.
It seems that the two countries' desires to proceed with the development of gas fields have agreed, and the Israeli side has expressed its willingness to talk for the first time in about 30 years, and the focus will be on whether an agreement can be reached.
Israel and Lebanon held their first talks with representatives on the 14th at a UN facility in Nakula, southern Lebanon, to demarcate the eastern Mediterranean border.
The talks were realized through the mediation of the United States, which has been in discussions with the two countries since 2010, and ended in about an hour and a half.
The U.S. government has evaluated the talks as "productive talks," and the media in both countries have agreed to set up a second talks on the 28th of this month.
The two countries have fought frequently since the First Middle East War, which began with the founding of Israel, and in 2006 there was a large-scale battle between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite organization Hezbollah. After that, it has been in a state of suspension.
On the other hand, gas fields have been discovered one after another in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, where the two countries face each other, and it is believed that the two countries' desires to proceed with development have agreed this time.
Regarding the talks, the Israeli side has expressed motivation to reach an agreement, saying that it is the first political talk in about 30 years, but Hezbollah and others are repulsing in Lebanon, and the focus will be on whether an agreement can be reached in the future. ..
Israeli and US consensus seeking change in Lebanon
Israeli experts agree between Israel and the United States as an intermediary in calling for change in Lebanon, which is politically and economically unstable, about the realization of long-standing conflicts between the two countries. It is said that it is the result of doing.
Former Israeli government official and senior researcher Orna Mizrahi of the Israeli National Security Institute responded to an interview with NHK.
In this, Senior Researcher Mizurahi said, "The United States is demanding regional stability and reform of Lebanon's political system, and Lebanon, which is unstable for Israel, is in a dangerous situation. Such speculation decided to start talks." He said it was necessary to start talks as political forces linked to hostile Israel became more influential in Lebanon.
He also pointed out that Israel wants to promote the excavation and development of gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean through discussions.
On the other hand, regarding the situation on the Lebanese side, "The economic situation is becoming serious due to the explosion at the port of Beirut. There are calls for economic improvement, and we will discuss with Israel as external support is needed. I think we have come to a conclusion, "he said, saying that he was forced to accept the conflicting dialogue with Israel at the request of the United States as an intermediary.
In the future, he said, "It may lead to understanding and agreement in other fields," he said. ..
History of the conflict between Israel and Lebanon
Bordering Israel and Lebanon have been in frequent war since the founding of Israel in 1948.
In the 1948 First Middle East War, which began with the founding of Israel, Lebanon fought with Israel along with the Arab countries Egypt and Syria, and 700,000 Palestinians became refugees.
In the 1970s, tensions increased as some Palestinian refugees were armed and set up in Lebanon to attack the Israeli side.
In 1978, the attacked Israel occupied southern Lebanon in retaliation.
With this as a trigger, the United Nations became an intermediary, and the UNFIL = UN Interim Forces in Lebanon was stationed in southern Lebanon.
In 1982, tensions again increased between the two countries, and Israel invaded Lebanon as a countermeasure against guerrillas and surrounded the capital Beirut.
At the same time, an armed group in Lebanon slaughtered thousands of Palestinian refugees in a refugee camp in Beirut.
The Israeli side withdrew from the occupied southern part of Lebanon in 2000, but Lebanon is calling for the demarcation of some border areas as they remain occupied by Israel.
In July 2006, Israel crossed the border when the Lebanese Islamic Shiite organization "Hezbollah", which had expanded its power with the support of Iran and Syria, attacked the Israeli army. Invaded and became a large-scale war.
A month after the battle began, a ceasefire was achieved between the Israeli army and Hezbollah under a UN Security Council resolution, but the two countries have remained in a truce to this day.