Israeli PM Rejects Lebanese Modifications To Maritime Deal, Casting Doubt On Deal’s Ratification

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid rejected Thursday the Lebanese modifications to the maritime deal being proposed between the two countries. Lapid claimed that the modifications suggested by Beirut were “significant”, casting doubt on a deal which had previously appeared a foregone conclusion.

Lapid also stressed that he would not compromise Israel’s economic and security interests even if it meant that there would be no deal in the near term, according to an official member of the government. He warned that if Hezbollah decided to threaten Israel or strike the Karish gas field, the talks would end permanently.

Lapid may be trying to fend off domestic criticism for the deal, which has not been authorized by the Knesset and which faces opposition from the attorney-general, who has yet to state what forum can authorize such a deal. Israel’s Supreme Court also still has to deal with a number of petitions claiming that a caretaker government has no authority to relinquish sovereignty over national assets.

Opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu has vowed that he would not be obligated to any agreement reached by the caretaker government.

Earlier Thursday, Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister said the deal with Israel would avert a war in the Middle East.

“We are avoiding a definite war in the region,” Najib Mikati said he told Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi during a meeting in Bkerké. “When we unite and our decision is one, we can reach what we all want.” Mikati claimed that all Lebanan’s leaders were unified in promoting the deal and had sent their modifications to US broker Amos Hochstein.

An unidentified Western diplomat had told Walla news Wednesday that “Lebanon’s comments on the draft deal are constructive and do not include potential ‘poison pills’ that could prevent an agreement.”

Pro-Hezbollah daily Al-Akhbar reported that Beirut did not agree to recognize Israel’s buoy-marked boundary — which Jerusalem unilaterally placed five kilometers off of the coast of the northern town of Rosh Hanikra in 2000 — as an international border. Moreover the Lebanese are against including the land border in the agreement and rejected Israel’s demand for compensation in exchange for relinquishing rights to the Qana gas field which is in the disputed zone between the two countries.

Finally, Lebanon reportedly objected to a proposed signing ceremony alongside Israeli officials in the Lebanese city of Naqoura. Instead, officials countered that a deal should be signed with officials from the two sides in separate rooms, since Israel and Lebanon do not have any diplomatic relations and are technically at war.

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