Lebanon Responds to Israeli Claims over Maritime Demarcation

Today, the Lebanese Presidency denied the statements of the Israeli Energy Minister about Lebanon changing its stance on maritime demarcation.

Israeli Energy Minister Yovan Steinitz stated that Lebanon changed its position on the issue of the southern maritime borders seven times, which has been completely denied by Lebanon's Information Office.

The Information Office affirmed that "the Israeli minister's words are groundless because Beirut's position is consistent about this issue as per the directives that the President of Michel Aoun gave to the Lebanese negotiating delegation."

It is noteworthy that the first round of indirect negotiations to demarcate the maritime borders between Beirut and Israel was launched on last October with the mediation of the US and the UN, followed by three other rounds. The fifth session is scheduled to start on the 2nd of December.

In the same context, Israel accused Beirut of changing its stance regarding the demarcation of the maritime borders between the two countries in the Mediterranean, warning that the talks would reach a "dead end" and obstruct the oil exploration projects at sea, while Lebanon denied these accusations.