US envoy Amos Hochstein and Lebanese President Michel Aoun discuss the delimitation of the maritime border between Lebanon and Israel, in Baabda on June 14, 2022. (Credit: Dalati and Nohra)
BEIRUT — President Michel Aoun said Tuesday that he responded to the proposal by US mediator for the Lebanese-Israeli maritime border negotiations, Amos Hochstein, in relation to the border demarcation which was presented a "few months ago." Aoun's comments came during a meeting with Hochstein at the Presidential Palace in Baabda on Tuesday, the Presidency’s twitter account reported. No elaboration on the nature or content of Hochstein's response was reported.
Here’s what we know:
• On Monday afternoon, Hochstein arrived in Lebanon after Israel deployed a floating production, storage and offloading vessel to the disputed Karish offshore gas field. The vessel arrived in the disputed field on June 5, stoking tensions with Lebanon.
• According to the Presidency’s twitter account, Aoun told Hochstein on Tuesday that Lebanon “values its sovereign rights over its waters and natural resources.” Aoun also asked him for a “rapid response given the current developments, which the mediator promised he would do.”
• Hochstein left the Presidential Palace without making a statement.
• Yesterday, a source from the Presidential Palace told L’Orient Today that in its maritime border negotiations with Israel, Lebanon is going to try to “secure” the Qana gas field and “negotiate” on line 29, which puts an extra 1,430 square kilometers within Lebanon’s maritime borders. However, Aoun has so far not signed a decree that would amend Decree No. 6433 of 2011, affirming Beirut’s claim to territory up to Line 29 of the maritime borders rather than line 23.
• Upon his arrival in Lebanon on Monday, Hochstein was received by the head of General Security Abbas Ibrahim, Parliament Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab and caretaker Energy Minister Walid Fayad.
• On Tuesday, the US meditator met with the head of the Lebanese Army Gen. Joseph Aoun, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, caretaker Foreign Affairs Minister Abdallah Bou Habib and President Aoun.
CORRECTION: This article originally incorrectly stated that Aoun had responded to Hochstein's proposal months ago. While Hochstein made his proposal month ago, Aoun gave his response today.