Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said that the dispute between Israel and Lebanon over the disputed areas in the Mediterranean will be settled through ongoing negotiations mediated by the United States, at a time when the Lebanese government confirms its continued efforts to resolve this dispute diplomatically.
These statements come after the arrival of a ship - operated by the Energean company for Tel Aviv - to a field that Israel calls “Karesh” and claims that it is part of the exclusive economic zone, and not in a disputed area with Lebanon, to extract natural gas.
With maritime delimitation negotiations failing to produce results, the Energean arrived at the field to begin drilling.
Gantz made it clear that Israel is working to exploit its own gas fields located in its areas only, but with regard to the disputed areas, the American mediation will solve the matter.
The Israeli Defense Minister made it clear that Lebanon has a supreme interest in reaching an agreement that would allow it to also work on developing gas fields, expressing his hope that this would be the first interest of the Lebanese government.
position and follow up
For his part, the caretaker prime minister in Lebanon, Najib Mikati, said that he is following up on the results of diplomatic contacts regarding the demarcation of the maritime borders with Israel, and the expected issues from the mission of the American mediator.
Mikati stressed that the Lebanese state is following up on the data of this file, which is being dealt with by diplomatic means, to produce positive results, and to motivate indirect negotiations.
Mikati also called for the file to be kept away from internal debates and political accounts because it concerns all Lebanese, and preserves Lebanon's rights and wealth.
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri also said that the US mediator for the demarcation of the southern maritime border, Amos Hochstein, will arrive in Beirut next Sunday or Monday to complete the investigation into the file.
Mikati called for the file to be removed from internal debates and political calculations (Al-Jazeera)
Invitation and negotiation
On Monday, Lebanon announced that it would invite Hochstein to visit Beirut in order to continue negotiations on the issue to prevent any escalation, after accusing Israel of encroaching on the disputed waters.
On Monday, Israel said the dispute was a civil issue that must be resolved diplomatically, with US mediation.
The United States began mediating indirect talks on the issue in 2020.
Lebanon has yet to respond to an undisclosed proposal to US envoy Hochstein earlier this year.
And US State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a briefing - Monday - that an agreement on the maritime border is possible "if the two sides negotiate in good faith and benefit both countries. To this end, we strongly support efforts to reach a mutually beneficial agreement."