US-Led Efforts to Normalize Relations Between Israel and Middle Eastern Countries Restart
[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Israel and the Middle Eastern country Lebanon will enter negotiations to resolve their border dispute under the mediation of the United States. Attention is focused on whether this will create an opportunity to improve the conflict between the two countries.
Nabi Berry, Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, stated at a press conference on the 1st (local time) that an agreement was reached on the framework to start indirect negotiations regarding land and maritime borders with Israel, and that the United States will mediate the talks, according to the Lebanese media outlet 'Daily Star.'
Nabih Berri, Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, is holding a press conference on the 1st to announce negotiations with Israel. [Image source=AP Yonhap News]
Israel's Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz also issued a statement on the same day, announcing that Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to hold negotiations mediated by the United States after October 9.
Lebanon and Israel have long been at odds over border issues surrounding energy development in the Mediterranean. Since 2009, as massive natural gas and oil deposits were discovered along the Mediterranean coast, the two countries have claimed sovereignty over some overlapping areas.
Lebanon has accused Israel of violating Lebanese territorial sovereignty by constructing concrete barriers along the border.
Aside from the border issue, attention is also on whether these negotiations will lead to improved relations between Israel and Lebanon. The United States, after facilitating normalization agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, is reportedly also pursuing normalization with Lebanon, Sudan, and others.
Although Lebanon is not a fully Islamic state, it has maintained a long-standing hostile relationship with Israel. In 1978, during the Lebanese Civil War, Israel invaded Lebanon to eliminate Palestinian guerrillas, and in 2006, clashes between Lebanon’s Islamic Shia armed group Hezbollah and Israel resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths in Lebanon and about 160 in Israel.
The U.S. government immediately welcomed the announcement. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, "We welcome the announcement of border-related negotiations between Israel and Lebanon. This maritime sovereignty negotiation is expected to provide prosperity, stability, and security to the peoples of both countries."
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