President Michel Aoun receives the written proposal with the Israeli offer related to the maritime demarcation between Israel and Lebanon from US Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea in Baabda on Oct. 1, 2022. (Credit: LebPresidency/Twitter)
BEIRUT — The United States wants a deal reached "as soon as possible" regarding the Lebanese-Israeli maritime border negotiations, US Ambassador in Lebanon Dorothy Shea said on Tuesday, after meeting Parliament Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab on Tuesday, the state-owned National News Agency reported.
Here's what we know:
• Shea also said that Lebanon should “speed up” its response to the Israeli proposal regarding the negotiations.
• Lebanon and Israel have been indirectly negotiating their maritime border, using the US as a mediator. An agreement on a border would remove obstacles to the exploration and exploitation of offshore gas deposits.
• On Saturday, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati told L'Orient Today that “the atmosphere is positive” and that “an agreement should be reached soon," after a resolution proposal was received from US envoy Amos Hochstein.
• Amendments to the proposals will be sent to Hochstein on Tuesday "at the latest," according to Bou Saab, to finalize the text before a final agreement is reached.