Friday May 23, 2025
NEWSLETTER
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
Home News Israel

High Court says lame-duck gov't may sign Lebanese gas deal, paving way for final vote

Critics of the deal who had appealed to the court said the current interim government should not be allowed to change Israel's maritime border or make such weighty, strategic decisions without an electoral mandate.

by  AP , Reuters and ILH Staff
Published on  10-23-2022 13:22
Last modified: 10-30-2022 15:17
Watchdog launches campaign ahead of High Court hearing on nation state lawOren Ben Hakoon

The High Court of Justice | Photo: Oren Ben Hakoon

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Supreme Court, in its capacity as the High Court of Justice, threw out on Sunday four legal challenges to a landmark maritime agreement between Israel and Lebanon, clearing a major hurdle for the deal that could mark a major breakthrough in relations between the two countries.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

The court did not immediately release its reasons for rejecting the challenges, which were submitted by an influential conservative policy group. The court's ruling paves the way for the agreement to be given final approval by Israel's government, a step expected later this week.

Lebanon and Israel both claim some 860 square kilometers (330 square miles) of the Mediterranean Sea. At stake are rights over exploiting undersea natural gas reserves. Lebanon hopes gas exploration will help lift its country out of its spiraling economic crisis. Israel also hopes to exploit gas reserves while also easing tensions with its northern neighbor.

Critics of the deal who had appealed to the court said the current interim government should not be allowed to change Israel's maritime border or make such weighty, strategic decisions without an electoral mandate.

"Israel has crossed a fundamental democratic line, with a lame duck government agreeing to give up the country's sovereign territory to an enemy state days before an election," said Eugene Kontorovich, of the Kohelet Policy Forum, the conservative think tank that had petitioned the court. Israel heads to the polls for the fifth time in less than four years next week.

Israel and Lebanon and formally have been at war since Israel's establishment in 1948. In 2006, Israel and the Shiite terrorist group Hezbollah fought a monthlong, inconclusive war and tensions with the group remain high.

Israel says the deal will bolster its security, help stabilize the northern frontier and boost the economy with billions in revenue from any gas discovered.

The Lebanese and Syrian presidents discussed delineating their countries' shared maritime border on Saturday before a visit to Damascus next week by a Lebanese delegation tasked with negotiating the issue, a Lebanese official said.

A dispute over their shared sea boundary emerged in 2021 after Syria granted a license to a Russian energy company to begin maritime exploration in an area Lebanon claimed. Several gas discoveries have been made in the eastern Mediterranean.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun earlier said demarcating the border would be next after Lebanon agreed its southern maritime boundary with longtime foe Israel following years of indirect US-mediated talks.

Aoun told Syrian President Bashar Assad that was keen "to begin negotiations with Syria to delineate its northern maritime boundary," the Lebanese official told Reuters after Saturday's talks.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

Tags: i24NEWS-VIDIsraelLebanon

Related Posts

Supreme Court: Government decision to end Shin Bet chief's term unlwafulYehonatan Shaul, Reuben Castro

Supreme Court: Government decision to end Shin Bet chief's term unlwaful

by Erez Linn

Court finds procedural flaws, conflict of interest, and lack of factual basis in decision-making process to terminate Ronen Bar. Although...

Iranian plot against defense minister Katz involved photo surveillanceReuters

Iranian plot against defense minister Katz involved photo surveillance

by Itsik Saban

The joint Shin Bet and Israel Police investigation discovered that throughout 2025, the suspects understood they were working under Iranian...

UK imposes sanctions on Israeli settlers, halts trade talksLeon Neal/Getty Images; Oren Ben Hakoon

UK imposes sanctions on Israeli settlers, halts trade talks

by Dudi Kogan

Move comes a day after London, Ottawa and Paris threaten to issue "targeted sanctions" against entities that undermine the two-state...

Menu

Analysis 

Archaeology

Blogpost

Business & Finance

Culture

Exclusive

Explainer

Environment

 

Features

Health

In Brief

Jewish World

Judea and Samaria

Lifestyle

Cyber & Internet

Sports

 

Diplomacy 

Iran & The Gulf

Gaza Strip

Politics

Shopping

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Submissions

Contact Us

About Us

The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge.

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

Newsletter

[contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”]

  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il