The major crisis in the U.S.-mediated talks could lead to a military escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.
An Israeli navy vessel patrols the maritime border between Israel and Lebanon in the Mediterranean Sea on Sept. 4. Photo: Mahmoud Zayyat/AFP via Getty Images
The need for a deal has become especially urgent as the Karish rig, a major Israeli gas project that Israel says is located south of the disputed area, prepares to come online. Hezbollah has called the beginning of production in the Karish rig a red line.Lebanon on Tuesday sent its comments on the draft agreement to U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein who has been mediating between the parties over the last year.
The recognition of the “line of buoys” was Israel’s main security interest and demand in the talks. The Lebanon stressed in its comments on the draft agreement that it won’t recognize the line of buoys and its legitimacy, according to Israeli officials and Lebanese press reports. Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid told the negotiating team to reject the changes Lebanon was seeking.A senior Israeli official said Lapid “made it clear that Israel will not compromise on its security and economic interests, even if that means that there will be no agreement soon.”
Gantz also ordered the Israeli military to increase offensive and defensive preparedness measures for a possible escalation on the northern border .Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Thursday that the maritime border deal with Israel is of strategic importance because it will prevent a regional war.
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