Although limited in scope, an agreement would mark a significant compromise between states with a history of war, paving the way for offshore energy exploration and mitigating a source of recent tensions between them.
“This is a historic achievement that will enhance Israel’s security, inject billions into the Israeli economy and ensure the stability of our northern border,” Lapid said in a statement.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun said earlier that the terms of the final draft obtained from the U. S. envoy would be finalized. U. S. Amos Hochstein angered Lebanon and hoped the deal would be announced as soon as possible.
The agreement between the neighboring countries, which remain technically at war, may mark a major step toward unlocking offshore fuel production for either country.
Hochstein presented a first set of final terms proposed to Israel and Lebanon earlier this month.
Israel welcomed Hochstein’s first draft, Lebanon asked for amendments. Israel has said it plans to reject the Lebanese changes.
Negotiations have continued in recent days, with Israel saying Hochstein’s most recent draft had put a deal within reach.
“All our demands have been met, the adjustments we requested have been corrected,” Israel’s national security adviser and lead negotiator at the talks, Eyal Hulata, said in a statement.
“We have Israel’s security interests and are on our way to a historic agreement,” he added.
A Lebanese familiar with the negotiations told AFP that the most recent U. S. draft “includes the maximum of Lebanon’s demands or positions and satisfies them. “
Hochstein sent his proposal to Lebanon’s chief negotiator, Vice President Elias Bou Saab, on Monday night and senior officials would discuss it on Tuesday, added the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity about the negotiations.
Countries reopened negotiations on their maritime border in 2020, the procedure has faced repeated obstacles.
A major source of friction is the Karish fuel field, which Israel said is completely under its waters and is not a matter of negotiation.
Lebanon has reportedly claimed part of the box and Hezbollah, the tough Iranian-backed Shiite organization that wields great influence in Lebanon, has threatened attacks if Israel starts production in Karish.
Israel said production would begin in Karish as soon as possible, regardless of Lebanon’s demands.
On Sunday, London-listed Energean began testing the pipeline linking Karish to the Israeli coast, a key step before production can begin.
Under the terms of the US allocation leaked to the press, all of Karish would remain under Israeli control, while Qana, the possible fuel field, would be divided but its exploitation would be under Lebanese control.
France’s Total would be allowed to search for fuel in the Qana field, and Israel would get a percentage of the revenue in the long run.
Lapid said his government had pledged to export more fuel to Europe to update war-affected Russian deliveries to Ukraine.
But Israel’s Nov. 1 general election overshadowed the stages of negotiations.
Right-wing opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu accused Lapid of “capitulating” to Lebanese militant Hezbollah, which plays a leading role in the country’s politics, by moving forward with a deal.
It is unclear whether Netanyahu, who remains determined to reclaim the post of prime minister he held from 2009 to 2021, has realized the proposed terms of the deal.
However, he vowed that the warmongering government he hopes to form next month with his devout and far-right allies will be linked through any deal with Lebanon.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)