The Energean floating unit in the Karish field in the eastern Mediterranean on July 3, 2022. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — The head of the American Task Force for Lebanon and former US Ambassador to Morocco Edward Gabriel on Wednesday said that there is an “opportunity” to settle the maritime border dispute between Lebanon and Israel but warned that eventually “the window of opportunity would close,” the state-run National News Agency reported.
Here’s what we know:
• Gabriel’s remarks come after tensions rose in June in the Lebanese-Israeli maritime border dispute after Israel deployed a floating unit to the disputed Karish gas field.
• According to the NNA, during a meeting with caretaker Foreign Affairs Minister Abdallah Bou Habib, Gabriel indicated that the maritime border dispute with Israel is “a sovereign decision for Lebanon” but cautioned that “the window of opportunity [to settle the dispute] will close.” “When this happens there will be no more opportunities to settle affairs between the two countries for several centuries. This means that Lebanon will not be able to exploit [gas] from the disputed area and that there will be no companies coming to drill the area,” Gabriel said, adding that “we hope that Lebanon will take advantage of this small opportunity that presents itself today.”
• Gabriel also said that he had discussed with the commander-in-chief of the Lebanese army Gen. Joseph Aoun the situation of the Lebanese Army soldiers and met with other officials, the NNA reported. “We have stressed on the need to act quickly to save the country from deepening collapse and we call on officials to act urgently to meet the demands of the International Monetary Fund by putting in place reforms for the economic recovery in the country,” Gabriel said.
• On Monday, Gabriel warned Lebanese officials of the risk of “catastrophe” if the executive and the legislature authorities do not act quickly to launch reforms. In April, Lebanon signed a preliminary agreement with the IMF under which the IMF aims to assist Lebanon with $3 billion spread over four years on the condition of the implementation of essential reforms.