Israel and Lebanon have agreed on a draft agreement to end a decades-long dispute over an eastern component of the Mediterranean Sea.
The leaders of the two countries, which have no direct official relations, expressed hope that there could be a ratification of the agreement, which establishes their exclusive economic zones and delineates where the country has the exclusive right to extract resources.
The disputed domain includes Karish’s oil and fuel box and a domain known as the Qanaa prospect. Israel said it would start extracting oil and fuel from Karish and exporting it to Europe.
The U. S. envoy U. S. Amos Hochstein, who helped negotiate the deal, said it could be “several years” before the fuel succeeds among European consumers, but added that it “sends a very clear message to Russia,” the New York Times reported, as Moscow has used energy materials to strain the EU.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun said the deal, which is guaranteed by the United States, “meets their demands and preserves Lebanon’s rights to this herbal wealth. “
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said it is a “historic achievement” that will “strengthen Israel’s security, inject billions into the Israeli economy and ensure the stability of our northern border. “
The deal still faces demanding legal and political situations in Israel, where Lapid will convene a security cabinet assembly followed by a special cabinet assembly on Wednesday.
Lebanese officials who have indicated they will approve the deal said it means a “treaty” will be signed with Israel and is a step toward normalizing relations between the countries, which are technically at war.
Lebanon’s interim prime minister, Najib Mikati, said last week that a deal “will save us from a definitive war in the region,” CNN reported.
The deal has yet to reach the borders likely to ease economic and security tensions, and security figures say it can only ease tensions with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which has threatened to attack Israeli fuel assets in the Mediterranean.
“This can help create mutual deterrence between Israel and Hezbollah,” said Yoel Guzansky of Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, according to The Associated Press.
The two sides fought a war in 2006 and Israel regards Hezbollah as its immediate military threat.
Newsweek reached out to the Israeli and Lebanese ministries for comment.
Update 10/11/22, a. m. ET 11: This article has been updated with more information.
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