Aoun: Completing maritime agreement will pull Lebanon out of abyss

• 

Lebanese President Michel Aoun considered Wednesday that the completion of the maritime border demarcation agreement will pull Lebanon out of the abyss it was pulled into.

Aoun added that the completion of the border demarcation agreement will be followed, as of next week, by the start of returning batches of displaced Syrians to their country.

Israeli cabinet approves maritime border agreement

Earlier, the Israeli occupation cabinet approved the US-brokered maritime border agreement with Lebanon, with all its members voting in favor, except Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked who abstained, Israeli media reported.

The media said Israeli occupation Prime Minister Yair Lapid does not wish to seek the Knesset's approval, since if put to vote in the parliament, it is not clear whether the maritime agreement will pass.

But the legal advisor to the Israeli occupation government, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, recommended Tuesday that the agreement be brought to the Knesset for formal parliamentary approval, although "there is no obligation by law to bring an agreement of this sort for approval by the Knesset."

This comes after Lapid announced on Tuesday that "Israel" has reached a historic agreement on maritime demarcation agreement mediated by the US.

On its part, the Lebanese Presidency also confirmed that "the final version of the southern maritime borders agreement is satisfactory and meets the Lebanese demands."

What does the draft demarcation agreement include?

A draft agreement on the demarcation of the maritime border between Lebanon and the Israeli occupation was published on Wednesday.

According to the draft, the deal will enter into force once the US issues a notice to Lebanon and the Israeli occupation, officially announcing that the deal is in place.

The draft indicated that further disputes regarding the interpretation and implementation of the agreement would be resolved through discussions conducted by Washington.

It also pointed out that Lebanon and the Israeli occupation have the right to start exploration operations as soon as the agreement enters into force. 

On its part, the European Union welcomed Wednesday the conclusion of an agreement between Lebanon and the Israeli occupation regarding the demarcation of the maritime borders, saying the agreement contributes to the stability and security of the region.

On Tuesday, Aoun received a call from US President Joe Biden, congratulating him on the conclusion of the maritime demarcation negotiations.

Haaretz: Truth is "Israel" deterred by Hezbollah

Earlier, Israeli newspaper Haaretz tackled the Israeli occupation's maritime border agreement with Lebanon and considered that the balance tilted to Lebanese Hezbollah's side in this matter.

The newspaper indicated that "beneath the debate surrounding the maritime agreement with Lebanon, like gas deep under the seabed, simmers a repressed issue, whose potential for igniting and exploding is similar to that of a huge gas deposit: the fact that Israel is deterred by Hezbollah."

Haaretz said the "Israeli society is not interested in discussing the price of war with Hezbollah. This is a doomsday scenario. Thousands of missiles on Israeli cities. Tremendous destruction, cities in ruins, thousands of civilians killed, hundreds of thousands injured."

According to the Israeli newspaper, "Israel has very good reasons to strive for an understanding with Hezbollah or, unfortunately, for a balance of terror, because the trauma of another war against the organization will leave a scar so deep."

Former Israeli General: Hezbollah threatens, 'Israel' kneels

On his part, Israeli former Brigadier General Amir Avivi said on Tuesday that Hezbollah has forced "Israel" to submit and kneel.

Avivi considered that Hezbollah forced "Tel Aviv" to accept Lebanon's terms in the border demarcation, according to the Israeli website 0404.

The former Brigadier General clarified that "Israel" is now witnessing a dangerous precedent whereby Hezbollah has threatened "Israel", and "Israel" has submitted to the threat especially now that it is close to holding Knesset elections in November.

The Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, affirmed on Tuesday that "we are going through decisive times in the issue of border demarcation and the extraction of oil and gas," noting that the demarcation process has been very difficult during the past few days.

The Resistance leader stressed that "until the agreement is signed, we must remain vigilant in light of the contradictory Israeli statements."

Read more: Mikati asks Total to begin drilling for gas in Lebanese waters