With the support of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz invited Lebanese President Michel Aoun to meet directly in a European country to negotiate the demarcation of the maritime borders between the two countries.
Tweeting in Arabic, the Minister wrote, “I am of the belief that if we were able to meet face to face in one of the European countries in order to conduct open or secret negotiations, we would have a good opportunity to resolve our differences over the maritime borders once and for all. In doing so, we will contribute to strengthening the economic future and well-being of the two peoples.”
Netanyahu published the news in a letter circulated to the press, stating that he supports Steinitz’s statements.
In his Monday tweet, the Israeli minister also wrote, “I am pleased to inform you that I have enjoyed the dialogue that has been taking place between us in recent days on Twitter about the maritime border negotiations. But unfortunately, it seems that you do not know all the facts about this matter, because the Lebanese side has changed its positions on the maritime borders many times during the last 15 years.”
It is worth noting that to date, representatives of Lebanon and Israel have held three negotiating sessions at the Lebanese Naqoura village under the auspices of the United Nations and the administration of US President Donald Trump.
And while the Lebanese are talking about positive negotiations, Israelis accuse Beirut of making unrealistic demands during the negotiation sessions.
Last Thursday, Aoun said that Lebanon’s position on the maritime border should be “based on the line that departs on land from the point of Ras Naqoura.”
