Biden calls "Israel", Lebanon deal "historic"

• 

US President Joe Biden weighed in on the maritime agreement between "Israel" and Lebanon, saying that Lebanon and "Israel" formally concluded a "historic" maritime border deal on Thursday in the presence of US officials.'

"Both parties took the final steps to bring the agreement into force and submitted the final paperwork to the United Nations in the presence of the United States," Biden said in a statement, saying the "historic agreement" benefitted both countries.

"This agreement takes us one step closer to realizing a vision for a Middle East that is more secure, integrated and prosperous, delivering benefits for all the people of the region," Biden said.

Earlier today, Deputy Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Elias Bou Saab announced that Lebanese President Michel Aoun had signed Lebanon's receipt and approval of the US letter regarding the demarcation of Lebanon's Southern maritime border.

This Thursday afternoon, the signing ceremony was held at the UN base in the Lebanese border town of Ras Al-Naqoura, in the presence of the UN and the US delegations, noting that an Israeli delegation would be present in a separate room and the Lebanese delegation would not meet or engage with them in any way. 

It was reported that "the delegations will be in Naqoura in separate rooms, and it is not expected that pictures of the signings would be taken."

It is important to reaffirm that the Lebanese President confirmed that "what was achieved at the level of demarcating the southern maritime borders is the result of a Lebanese decision, reflecting the unity of the national position, and the outcome of difficult negotiations led by the Lebanese team with the American mediator with firmness, shrewdness, and determination."

Read more: Lebanon: Maritime border demarcation reflects unity of Lebanese stance