Lebanon, Israel Resume Maritime Border Talks

Lebanon and Israel resume on Tuesday a new round of talks to demarcate the maritime border with US mediation, at the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) base in Naquora, near Rosh Hanikra.

 

Energy Ministry Director-General Udi Adiri will head the Israeli delegation, according to the Jerusalem Post.

 

Last year, both countries held three rounds of talks hosted by the UN at a peacekeeper base in southern Lebanon which the U.N. and the U.S. described as “productive”.

 

The first meeting lasted no more than an hour, punctuated by the words of the United Nations Coordinator in Lebanon Jan Kubisch, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker, the head of the Lebanese delegation, Brigadier General Bassam Yassin, and the head of the Israeli delegation.

 

The meeting was held in complete secrecy and away from the media, which were not allowed to approach the hall, as the meeting was held under the auspices of the United Nations and American mediation.

 

The Lebanese delegation objected to taking a memorial photo of the meeting.

 

Both Hezbollah and the Amal movement objected to the formation of the negotiating delegation because it includes civilians and is not limited to the military.

 

On his part, Lebanon president has said that talks are strictly limited to their disputed boundary.