Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz arrives to attend a cabinet meeting, in Jerusalem, March 14, 2022. (Credit: Jack Guez/Pool via REUTERS)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) — Israel's defence minister said on Monday that the dispute with Lebanon over offshore natural gas deposits was a civilian issue to be resolved diplomatically with U.S. mediation.
"Everything to do with the dispute will be resolved in the framework of negotiations between us and Lebanon, mediated by the United States," Defence Minister Benny Gantz said in televised remarks to his parliamentary faction.
Tensions have risen between the two countries over the weekend when a vessel operated by London-based Energean arrived off the coast to develop a gas field which Israel says is part of its exclusive economic zone but which Lebanon says falls within the contested waters.
Earlier today, Both President Michel Aoun and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said they agreed to invite Amos Hochstein, the US mediator of Lebanon’s maritime borders negotiations with Israel, to Beirut “in order to discuss proceeding with the maritime borders negotiations in the south and working on finishing them as fast as possible.”