France contributing to US mediation between 'Israel', Lebanon: FM

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies + Al Mayadeen Net
8 Oct 2022 21:55
2 Shares

The French Foreign Ministry says an agreement on the demarcation of maritime borders between Lebanon and "Israel" would benefit both sides.

The Foreign Ministry said France is "actively contributing" to US mediation aimed at reaching an agreement between "Israel" and Lebanon

The French Foreign Ministry announced Sunday that it is actively participating in the American mediation to reach an agreement on the demarcation of maritime borders between Lebanon and the Israeli occupation.

In a tweet, the French Foreign Ministry said that "France is actively contributing to American mediation aimed at reaching an agreement on the maritime border between Israel and Lebanon," adding that an agreement would benefit both sides "and their peoples."

#Liban #Israël | La France contribue activement à la médiation américaine visant à trouver un accord sur la frontière maritime entre Israël et le Liban. Un accord serait bénéfique aux deux pays et à leurs populations.

Déclaration ➡️https://t.co/5Ln5gTeXYp pic.twitter.com/WAHrwpPRYU
— France Diplomatie🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@francediplo) October 8, 2022

Lebanese President Michel Aoun said during his meeting with the Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League, Hossam Zaki, that Lebanon is awaiting the outcome of the contacts made by the US mediator, Amos Hochstein, with the Israelis to determine the course of negotiations on maritime borders.

In the same context, the Axios website quoted a US official as saying that "we have made progress in the negotiations on maritime border demarcation between Israel and Lebanon."

Earlier, Israeli media advised Israelis in the north to head to the streets and seek protection, pointing out that an agreement with Lebanon is their only savior and the thin line that separates between life and a mass catastrophe.

This comes after an Israeli official said Thursday that the Israeli occupation rejected revisions requested by Lebanon to the US-mediated border demarcation proposal.

In response, Lebanese President Michel Aoun underlined that Lebanon had proposed the changes to the US-mediated deal with its rights to extract oil in its exclusive economic zone in mind.

Similarly, Abbas Ibrahim, Lebanese Security General Director General and one of the officials on Lebanon's negotiating team, said that Lebanon is not concerned with the Israeli response to the proposal on the demarcation of the maritime borders between Beirut and "Tel Aviv".

The Lebanese official underlined that US mediator Amos was responsible for dealing with the occupation's response to Lebanon.

"The Israeli's response means nothing to us as Lebanon," and Beirut "is waiting for the US negotiator to assume his responsibilities," he said. As long as Lebanon has a united front, it will stand strong, Ibrahim stressed.

Israeli media considered Thursday that the Lebanese maritime border agreement strengthens Hezbollah's position domestically, stressing that Hezbollah has once again proven that it can achieve its political and strategic goals in Lebanon and the region thanks to its military strength that cannot be dissuaded or weakened.