Nazir Reda wrote in Asharq Al-Awsat:
The American mediator for the maritime border demarcation negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, Amos Hochstein, announced that the negotiations had made “very good progress” in order to “conclude an agreement that would be in the interest of the Lebanese economy,” following his meeting with Lebanese officials in Beirut, amid a Lebanese impression of “cautiousness” that the results of the talks It “indicates a delay in time,” which “creates great doubts that it will not contribute to de-escalation” in light of Hezbollah’s threats.
The two countries are engaged in US-brokered negotiations to demarcate the common maritime boundary, which would help define each aspect of oil and gas resources and pave the way for further exploration. Hochstein arrived in Beirut yesterday, where he held a lightning round of talks with senior officials, and met with President Michel Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, in addition to Deputy Speaker of Parliament Elias Bou Saab, Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Bou Habib and Director of General Security, Major General Abbas Ibrahim.
Hochstein put the Lebanese officials in the atmosphere of his contacts during the past weeks that followed his visit to Beirut, including contacts with the Israeli side, and the results of his visit to France, including talks with the French company “Total”, which handles the exploration process in Lebanese territorial waters, in addition to The Italian “Eni”, according to what sources accompanying the visit told Asharq Al-Awsat.
The sources said that the American mediator “did not carry a decisive Israeli response to the Lebanese demand, which he took with him to Tel Aviv,” stressing that the delay in reaching an agreement, “is something that does not satisfy the Lebanese who insist on achieving it as soon as possible,” and that the Lebanese side “He categorically rejects the hypothesis of joint fields with Israel as normalization,” noting that he moved to Doha immediately following his visit to Beirut.
There is conflicting information in Beirut regarding the wave of optimism that has emerged. While Hochstein announced from Baabda Palace following his meeting with President Aoun regarding “very good progress” in the talks, other information spoke regarding the impression that following meeting some officials “was characterized by caution,” given that there are issues They have not been resolved, while Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri affirmed his insistence on returning to the “framework agreement,” which provides for indirect negotiations at the United Nations center in Naqoura under its flag and supervision, with the mediation and facilitation of the Americans, negotiations that stopped in May 2021.
In light of Hezbollah’s threat to go to a “measure” if the visit does not yield decisive results, in accordance with the party’s threat that it will not allow Israel to produce gas from the Karish field without Lebanon starting to explore for energy in its economic waters, informed sources said. Regarding the atmosphere of the visit, the results of the talks he held “indicate a delay in time,” which “creates great doubts that it will not contribute to de-escalation of tension,” adding that “it does not seem that there are decisive results from the talks with Lebanese officials.” The sources stressed that the postponement “is rejected by Lebanon, and it is not interested in whether the opposite party (Israel) postpones production or not.” The sources said: “We are determined to invest in all our fields and to obtain all our rights in the sea.”