U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein and Lebanese President Michel Aoun discussing the delineation of the maritime border between Lebanon and Israel, in Baabda, June 14, 2022. (Credit: Dalati and Nohra)
BEIRUT — U.S. maritime mediator Amos Hochstein, who arrived Monday afternoon in Beirut to discuss the maritime border dispute with Israel, was received Tuesday by several Lebanese officials, including the President Michel Aoun, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and the Lebanese Armed Forces Commander General Joseph Aoun.
Here’s what we know:
• President Aoun received Hochstein, in the presence of the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea, and began the indirect negotiations to demarcate the southern maritime border between Lebanon and Israel. Aoun was expected to pass on to the mediator the "official position" of Lebanon regarding the delimitation of its southern maritime border.
• The Armed Forces Commander General Joseph Aoun also received Hochstein in his office in Yarzeh, in the presence of Shea, and reiterated that the position of the military institution is in support of any decision taken by the political authority in this regard, and with any line it adopts to the interest of Lebanon.
• The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in the caretaker government, Abdullah Bou Habib also received the U.S. mediator who left all meetings without making any statements.
• Member of Parliament Waddah al-Sadiq tweeted on his Twitter account: "After meeting with the three presidents yesterday, it is clear that the 23rd line will be the basis for the [maritime border] negotiations with some adjustments."
• After meeting with the 13 opposition MPs on Monday, Aoun said in a press briefing that the negotiations between Lebanon and Israel for the maritime borders had stopped after Lebanon “suggested” line 29 as its territory.
• Hochstein is scheduled to meet Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. He is also expected to meet a delegation of opposition MPs later today who have expressed determination to call for Lebanon's right to line 29.
• Opposition MP Ibrahim Mneimneh tweeted about a conversation with local news channel Al Jadeed, where he said, “We believe that Line 29 is our right to the [exclusive] economic zone, and we have asked the President of the Republic for transparency, which is lacking so far.”
• Head of General Security, Abbas Ibrahim, had received Hochstein and caretaker Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fayad in his office yesterday afternoon, in the presence of the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Dorothy Shea.