'Israel', Lebanon close to signing maritime deal: Israeli media

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Lebanon and "Israel" are very close to striking a deal on the demarcation of the maritime borders, and all that remains are a few technical details, Israeli media reported on Monday.

"At the end of the day, when the agreement is signed, and it will, (Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan) Nasrallah will come and say 'it is because of me that this was the best deal', and this is part of the issue," Israeli Channel 12 Palestinian affairs correspondent Ohad Hemo said.

"We have seen Hezbollah leading a campaign over the past few weeks and months about this issue, about the Karish field, purely for domestic reasons, at least this is my explanation and that of Lebanese journalists, among others," Hemo added.

"This is an attempt to gain credit on his part. He wants to amplify his gains, for we know Nasrallah," Israeli Channel 12 political affairs commentator Yaron Abraham said.

"I will not go into details, but I will say that a deal between Lebanon and Israel is very, very, very close. Only a few technical details remain," he added

"Nasrallah will say, 'I sent drones towards Karish and I forced Israel to respond to the Lebanese demands, and this agreement was signed thanks to me.' I think they understand this in the security and military establishment, and it seems that for this reason they are not drawn into every provocation," Abraham claimed.

"It is estimated by the security and military establishment that an agreement with Lebanon is closer than ever and will advance security stability between countries," Israeli media said.

On the other hand, Israeli occupation Prime Minister Yair Lapid referred to "a possible agreement with Lebanon that will contribute a lot and benefit regional stability."

"The extraction of gas from the Karish rig is not linked to negotiations," Lapid added, highlighting that "Tel Aviv" could start extracting gas without reaching a deal with Beirut.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun stressed earlier in the day that negotiations regarding the demarcation of the maritime border with "Israel" were in their final stages.

Lebanon and the Israeli occupation have been participating in indirect, US-mediated talks to draw a line between the two parties' maritime areas, which would determine who has ownership over which oil and gas resources.

An informed source told Al Mayadeen that Hochstein handed Lebanon on September 11 the coordinates of the line of maritime buoys.

The source explained that these coordinates constitute the "last point that is being negotiated", in preparation for sending his [Hochstein's] "full offer".

Hochstein had arrived in Lebanon to hold a lightning round of talks with senior officials, and after his meeting with President Michel Aoun, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Elias Bou Saab, and the Director-General of the Lebanese General Security, Major General Abbas Ibrahim, he spoke about "very good progress" in the negotiations.

The mediator said he believes that "it will be beneficial to all parties", expressing his optimism. He added that "more efforts must be done, and the United States is committed to resolving the outstanding issues to reach an agreement that is in the interest of the Lebanese people."