Lazar Berman is the diplomatic reporter for The Times of Israel
The US special envoy for power, Amos Hochstein, told CNN’s Face the Nation on Sunday that Lebanon and Israel are expected to sign their new maritime border agreement on Thursday.
“We’re going to have a deal,” Hochstein said.
Israel awaits a rite of signature with Israeli and Lebanese officials sitting in the same room. Hochstein is expected to handle either rite.
According to the pro-Hezbollah daily Al-Akhbar, the event is expected to take place in the Lebanese city of Naqurah, with delegations from Israel and Lebanon signing the agreement in separate rooms. Lebanon will not sign the agreement until Israel does.
Once the agreement is signed, Jerusalem and Beirut will send letters to the United Nations with the terms of the agreement.
National security adviser Eyal Hulata is expected to constitute Israel, though Israeli officials said they had yet to make a decision.
Under the agreement, Israel will get recognition of its border marked through a buoy five kilometers (3. 1 miles) from the northern city of Rosh Hanikra, which it established in 2000. After that, the border will adhere to the southern edge of the disputed area. . area known as Line 23.
Lebanon will reap the economic benefits of the dominance north of Line 23, adding the Qana fuel box, while Israel will continue with its plans to start fuel production at the Karish box imminently.
Hours earlier, the High Court of Justice rejected the 4 petitions opposing the agreement, paving the way for the cabinet to approve the agreement. The cabinet is scheduled to meet Thursday at 10:30 a. m. m. at the prime minister’s house in Jerusalem to vote on the deal.
Prime Minister Yair Lapid will signal the deal after the vote, assuming the cabinet approves the deal as planned.
Jeremy Sharon contributed to this report.
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