US envoy Amos Hochstein, left, arrives in Ain al-Tineh to meet with Parliament Speaker head Nabih Berri on Sept. 9, 2022. (Credit: Mohammad Yassin)
BEIRUT — Caretaker Foreign Affairs Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said Monday that American envoy Amos Hochstein, mediator for the indirect negotiations between Lebanon and Israel over their common maritime border, "undoubtedly came up with new proposals" during his latest visit to Lebanon on Friday, adding, however, that he cannot disclose those new proposals.
Hochstein said Friday that "there is still work to be done" but "very good progress" was made in reaching an agreement between the two countries. These remarks were made during a very quick visit to Lebanon during which the US envoy met with Lebanese officials against the backdrop of recently increased tensions between Beirut and Tel Aviv. These tensions flared after the arrival on behalf of Israel of a floating platform in the Karish gas field, parts of which are in a disputed zone.
Bou Habib also said in his Monday statement, after a meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati that US President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid about the negotiations, "convinced of the necessity of reaching an agreement this month or next month." Bou Habib pointed out that "there is progress and we have not reached the end now."
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'There is still work to be done' to reach an agreement, Hochstein says after Beirut visit
Deputy Parliament Speaker Elias Bou Saab, who is assigned by the president to oversee the maritime border demarcation file, confirmed in a televized interview with local channel LBCI on Sunday that Lebanon received the proposed coordinates of six maritime points from the US envoy on Friday, assuring that "no one has asked Lebanon to relinquish any land point."
He added that a specialized Lebanese technical team will receive these coordinates "to study them and see if they match the Lebanese maps, rights and demands," and to make sure there are no conflicts with them.
Bou Saab concluded that when Lebanon completes this task, it will wait for Hochstein's proposal regarding the full demarcation processes, saying that, however, "no one knows, until now, when [Hochstein] will visit again."
These statements were made as threats of war were reiterated between Hezbollah and Israel. Israeli army chief of staff Aviv Kochavi threatened Sunday that "both the state of Lebanon and Hezbollah will bear the repercussions if the sovereignty of the state of Israel is violated and if its interests are harmed or its citizens are harmed."