'Israel' de-escalates alert level in the north post-demarcation

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli Media
29 Oct 2022 20:17
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After the demarcation deal was signed on Thursday, the Israeli forces announce a decreased alertness level.

Borders between South Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian lands.

The alert level on the Israeli-occupied northern Palestinian borders has been lowered after the occupation and Lebanon's landmark maritime border deal went into effect, Israeli media said on Friday.

According to Israeli public broadcaster KAN, the level of readiness has been reduced from the Israeli side after the deal was struck. On the Lebanese side, Lebanese Resistance movement Hezbollah said it would reduce mobilization on the border, particularly after warning Israeli ships.

The maritime deal to establish an economic zone for Lebanon went into effect on Thursday after a ceremony at a UN base near the border.

"All the exceptional and special measures and mobilization carried out by the Resistance for several months are now declared over," Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised speech, calling the agreement a great victory for Lebanon.

Lebanese Parliament Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab announced that same day 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.

US mediator Amos Hochstein said in a press conference in Beirut: "Today is a historic day," on account of reaching an agreement that "will provide great opportunities for Lebanon."

Demarcation agreement will not lead to peace with 'Israel'

Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Friday told LBC broadcaster that Lebanon "demarcated the borders to avert war," adding that "the maritime deal was the outcome of national interests and stability" and is in no way an indication of peace with "Israel".

"We claimed our right to demarcate and amplified it, and we consolidated it, thus giving hope to the Lebanese people," he further added.

"The demarcation will lay the ground for the extraction of gas and oil which will lift Lebanon out of debt, and this is my gift to the Lebanese before I leave."

Aoun noted that "there are no papers, signatures, or anything else in the process of signing the demarcation agreement that could indicate a peace agreement [was made]."

The Lebanese President pointed out that "the money that will be generated from oil companies will be deposited in the Sovereign Fund for Oil and Gas Revenues."