Prime Minister Yair Lapid said on Wednesday he would push forward a deal to demarcate a maritime border with Lebanon, forgoing a parliamentary feud that could have delayed the US-brokered agreement beyond a Nov. 1 election.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
"After months of complex negotiations which reached their peak in recent days, we have succeeded in reaching a diplomatic-economic agreement with Lebanon on a maritime boundary between our countries," he said in a press conference. "This deal preserves the security of communities in the north as well as the freedom of action of the IDF and the Israeli Navy's control of the area closest to the shoreline, on what is known as the Buoy Line."
Lapid lauded the emerging agreement, saying it would "stave off the possibility of a military clash with Hezbollah" and ensure energy security for Israel.
Video: Reuters
"This is an agreement signed off on by all the security bodies, that the United States and the international community are praising, that instead of war: brings the people of Israel billions in revenues and energy security for years to come," he said, adding that the emerging accord not only preserves, but enhances Israel's security.
If finalized, the deal – hailed by Israel, Lebanon and the United States as a historic achievement – would mark a diplomatic departure from decades of war and hostility as well as open the door to offshore energy exploration.
But time constraints are squeezing both sides. The Knesset is rushing ahead of the national ballot and Lebanese President Michel Aoun, who supports the deal, ends his term on Oct. 31.
"We need to pass this deal at this time," Lapid, a centrist, told a news conference on Wednesday shortly after his cabinet endorsed the agreement. Otherwise, he said, it could be years before another window of opportunity.
A draft of the deal seen by Reuters said it was intended to be "a permanent and equitable resolution" of the maritime dispute but did not resolve a disagreement over the countries' shared land border.
It will take effect once Jerusalem and Beirut send letters to Washington, which will issue a notice announcing the deal is in place.
On that day, Lebanon and Israel will simultaneously send identical coordinates to the United Nations laying out the boundary's location.
If passed, the border will begin west of a line of buoys that extends from the contested land border. Those buoys will remain in place, according to the deal's text.
The United States will act as an ongoing guarantor for any further maritime disputes.
Opposition Leader and former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has argued the deal could benefit Hezbollah, and accused Lapid of evading parliamentary scrutiny. There will be a 14-day review by lawmakers but not a full vote to ratify.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
Meanwhile, Lebanon, too, wants to move forward quickly. Aoun is keen to sign the deal as his crowning achievement before his six-year term ends, according to political sources.
The deal will not be submitted to Lebanon's parliament but the prime minister, president and parliamentary speaker – the de facto ruling trio of an economically stricken country – have voiced satisfaction with its terms.
Lebanon's severe economic crisis is also an incentive for it to move quickly, as potential revenues from gas exploitation within its maritime border could help replenish state coffers or at least ease chronic electricity shortages.
French oil company Total Energies is set to begin exploration at the currently disputed Qana prospect immediately after the deal takes effect, though Lebanon's energy minister said preparations would take a few months.
Israeli Energy Minister Karine Elharrar told Tel Aviv's 103 FM radio initial estimates put that prospect's total value at some $3 billion. Lapid said Israel will get about 17% of revenue under the new arrangement.
