The Israeli government has announced that it has reached an agreement with rival country Lebanon to demarcate its maritime borders.
It is unusual for the two countries, which have no diplomatic relations, to agree to demarcate the demarcation line, and it is believed that the two countries agreed to pursue resource development in this sea area amid soaring global energy prices.
The Israeli government announced on the 11th that it had reached an agreement with neighboring Lebanese government to demarcate a maritime boundary in the eastern Mediterranean.
Israeli Prime Minister Rapid said in his statement, "This is a historic achievement that will strengthen Israel's security and bring significant economic benefits."
Israel and Lebanon have frequently exchanged wars since the First Middle East War in 1948, which started with the founding of Israel, and even today there is no diplomatic relationship.
Also, in 2006, a large-scale battle broke out between Israel and the Lebanese Shia Islamist group Hezbollah, but since then there has been a ceasefire.
Regarding the maritime boundary between the two countries, the U.S. government has been actively mediating since around the summer of this year, and negotiations are underway with both countries regarding the treatment of natural gas fields discovered near the boundary claimed by both countries. I was.
It seems that the two countries have agreed to pursue resource development in this sea area amid soaring global energy prices following Russia's military invasion of Ukraine. is.
Negotiations focus on interests in natural gas fields near the border
Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, which is backed by Israeli rival Iran, initially strongly opposed negotiations to demarcate the two countries' maritime boundaries.
In July this year, a drone was flown near the maritime boundary line and was shot down by the Israeli army, and even as negotiations reached the final stage, the Israeli army increased its vigilance and tensions increased.
However, local media and others report that Hezbollah ultimately agreed to the negotiations, saying that they would be in Lebanon's national interest.
In the negotiations this time, the focus was on interests in natural gas fields near the border, and the media in the Middle East agreed to return part of the profits to the Israeli side, while Lebanon's mining rights were recognized. I'm telling you I did.
In Lebanon, which is in the midst of a serious economic crisis, imports of gasoline and heavy oil have stagnated due to shortages of foreign currency, and the country is suffering from chronic power shortages. It has been.