Lebanon Prepares to Discuss Borders Negotiations with Israel

The Lebanon delegation, assigned to negotiate with Israel on the demarcation of the maritime borders met with the Armed Forces Commander General Joseph Aoun, to discuss the preparatory meetings before the start of preparatory talks between the two parties scheduled on Wednesday.

Lebanon and Israel announced that they would start negotiations of demarcating the maritime borders under the supervision of the UN at its headquarters in Naqoura in southern Lebanon, ten days ago.

Washington will play the role of mediator and facilitator during the first meeting.

The Lebanese Army announced on Saturday that General Aoun gave "basic directions for the launch of the negotiation, aiming to demarcate the maritime borders to start from Ras Naqoura by land and extends by sea, according to a study prepared by the army as per international laws."

On the other hand, Israel announced its delegation, which includes high-ranking officials, such as Director-General of the Energy Ministry, Udi Adiri, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's diplomatic advisor, Reuven Azar, and the head of the Army’s Strategic Affairs Department.

According to Lebanese officials, direct negotiations will not take place between the two delegations but will take place through the representative of the UN, while the Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said that the talks would be "direct."

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri's announcement about the upcoming negotiations ,sparked criticism in Lebanon, especially from Hezbollah's opponents, who saw in it the unstated approval of the party, which is the arch-opponent of Israel, and had previously announced its opposition to any American role in the negotiations.

In 2006, Lebanon witnessed a bloody war between Israel and Hezbollah that lasted 33 days, during which 1,200 Lebanese, most of them civilians, were killed, and 160 Israelis, most of them soldiers.

The Lebanese presidency declared that the negotiators will meet again by Monday with President Michel Aoun, before getting to meet with the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, according to AFP.