Amos Hochstein, an Israeli-born American mediator for indirect discussions on border demarcation between Lebanon and the Israeli occupation, stressed that if the talks were to succeed, they needed to be concluded rapidly.

In a TV interview during his visit to Beirut on Thursday, Hochstein said that last year's indirect talks between Lebanon and "Israel" in the presence of the US and the UN were a significant turning point, but noted that it is not yet clear whether the time has come to resume negotiations, hoping they will not take too long.

The US mediator proposed "some shuttle diplomacy first, in order to assess the positions of the parties to identify where there is room for negotiation and then ultimately, to go back to Naqoura and complete the [indirect] negotiations." 

He claimed that resolving the border problem would help reduce Lebanon's electricity crisis by allowing the country to develop its offshore gas resources.

US sanctions will not affect exporting Egyptian gas through Syria to Lebanon

Regarding an agreement to export Egyptian gas through a pipeline through Jordan and Syria into Lebanon, Hochstein explained that the US is working to implement the deal and confirmed that sanctions on Syria will not affect the gas exportation so the agreement can move forward.

According to Lebanese media, Hochstein arrived in Beirut last Tuesday on a visit aimed at activating the indirect negotiations between Lebanon and the Israeli occupation and discussing ways to facilitate Lebanon's access to energy sources to produce electricity from US allies.

Lebanon and the Israeli occupation began indirect talks mediated by the US in October 2020 at a UNIFIL base in Naqoura, bordering occupied Palestine.

The maritime border dispute has hampered exploration in the potentially gas-rich area, hence the indirect talks. 

Who is Amos Hochstein?

Hochstein is considered a close aide to US President Joe Biden.

The US mediator was born in "Israel" and served in the occupation army from 1992 to 1995 before moving to the United States. Hochstein helped to sign a gas trade deal between "Israel" and Jordan,  making 14 Visits to the latter and was described as a "Key Broker" in the deal.

Axios reported that his appointment to manage the border demarcation file "is an indication of the importance that the US administration sees in resolving this issue."

Indirect negotiations

Last May, Lebanon, and the Israeli occupation resumed indirect negotiations to demarcate maritime boundaries under the auspices of the US, after a pause that lasted for several months. The pause was due to disputes in the area, according to the Lebanese National News Agency.

While chairing a meeting of the delegation's members to the indirect negotiations, Lebanese President Michel Aoun stressed the importance of demarcating maritime borders in accordance with international laws and regulations, stressing Lebanon's right to invest its natural resources in the exclusive economic zone.

Lebanon adheres to its maritime rights and refuses to waive them, as the state presented maps and documents proving its right to the borders.