“The State of Israel won today,” says Lapid, as government approves maritime boundary agreement with Lebanon
In Beirut, Lebanese President Aoun also signed the agreement | The official ceremony will be held this afternoon | Deal “took some real guts,” said US President Biden
Mandi Kogosowski
| 27/10/2022
Israeli PM Lapid signs maritime boundary agreement on Thursday. Photo: Amos Ben-Gershom (GPO)
“The State of Israel won today. In security, economically, diplomatically, and in energy. Great work everyone,” said Israeli Prime Minister, Yair Lapid, at the start of a special cabinet meeting held this morning to approve the maritime deal between Israel and Lebanon.
Following the government’s approval, Lapid signed the agreement himself, alongside the Israeli negotiating team. Lebanon’s President, Michel Aoun, also signed the deal in Beirut this morning in the presence of US Energy Envoy and chief mediator Amos Hochstein. The latter will meet with Lapid this evening in Jerusalem.
An official signing ceremony will be held this afternoon at the UN Base in Naqoura, with the participation of the Israeli negotiating team as well as Lebanese, American, and UN delegations.
“This is a tremendous achievement for the State of Israel, and for the Government of Israel,” said Lapid at the start of the special cabinet meeting. “This agreement strengthens Israel’s security and our freedom of action against Hezbollah and the threats to our north.”
Lapid noted the “rare consensus in the security establishment regarding the necessity of this agreement, saying that “Defense Minister Benny Gantz, the IDF, the Mossad, the ISA and the NSC – everyone has signed off on this agreement and its contribution to Israel’s security and our operational needs.”
“This is a diplomatic achievement. It is not every day that an enemy country recognizes the State of Israel, in a written agreement, in view of the international community. It is not every day the United States and France stand behind us and provide security and economic guarantees for an agreement.
“This is also an economic achievement. Yesterday, gas production began from the Karish Platform. Israel will receive 17% of the profits from the Qana-Sidon Field, the Lebanese field. This money will go into Israel’s economy and will be used for health and welfare, education and security.”
Lapid also noted that two weeks ago, the government placed this agreement before all 120 members of Knesset. “The Knesset conducted a thorough review and oversight process, primarily at the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, including confidential portions which were presented to the Intelligence Subcommittee.” Lapid thanked the Chairman of the Committee, Ram Ben-Barak, for leading “comprehensive, and impartial discussions.”
“As is known, the process we have held was brought before the Supreme Court with various claims. The Supreme Court unanimously determined that the government conducted a fair, worthy, and lawful process. The responsibility is ours, and so is the authority: in the hands of the government,” Lapid added.
Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, discussed the deal with US President Joe Biden during their meeting at the White House yesterday (Wednesday).
“ Israel and Lebanon are going to sign an agreement to establish a permanent maritime boundary between your two countries. I think it’s a historic breakthrough. It took a lot of courage for you to step up and step into it. It took some real guts,” said Biden at the meeting.
In Beirut, Lebanese President Aoun also signed the agreement | The official ceremony will be held this afternoon | Deal “took some real guts,” said US President Biden
Israeli PM Lapid signs maritime boundary agreement on Thursday. Photo: Amos Ben-Gershom (GPO)
“The State of Israel won today. In security, economically, diplomatically, and in energy. Great work everyone,” said Israeli Prime Minister, Yair Lapid, at the start of a special cabinet meeting held this morning to approve the maritime deal between Israel and Lebanon.
Following the government’s approval, Lapid signed the agreement himself, alongside the Israeli negotiating team. Lebanon’s President, Michel Aoun, also signed the deal in Beirut this morning in the presence of US Energy Envoy and chief mediator Amos Hochstein. The latter will meet with Lapid this evening in Jerusalem.
An official signing ceremony will be held this afternoon at the UN Base in Naqoura, with the participation of the Israeli negotiating team as well as Lebanese, American, and UN delegations.
“This is a tremendous achievement for the State of Israel, and for the Government of Israel,” said Lapid at the start of the special cabinet meeting. “This agreement strengthens Israel’s security and our freedom of action against Hezbollah and the threats to our north.”
Lapid noted the “rare consensus in the security establishment regarding the necessity of this agreement, saying that “Defense Minister Benny Gantz, the IDF, the Mossad, the ISA and the NSC – everyone has signed off on this agreement and its contribution to Israel’s security and our operational needs.”
“This is a diplomatic achievement. It is not every day that an enemy country recognizes the State of Israel, in a written agreement, in view of the international community. It is not every day the United States and France stand behind us and provide security and economic guarantees for an agreement.
“This is also an economic achievement. Yesterday, gas production began from the Karish Platform. Israel will receive 17% of the profits from the Qana-Sidon Field, the Lebanese field. This money will go into Israel’s economy and will be used for health and welfare, education and security.”
Lapid also noted that two weeks ago, the government placed this agreement before all 120 members of Knesset. “The Knesset conducted a thorough review and oversight process, primarily at the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, including confidential portions which were presented to the Intelligence Subcommittee.” Lapid thanked the Chairman of the Committee, Ram Ben-Barak, for leading “comprehensive, and impartial discussions.”
“As is known, the process we have held was brought before the Supreme Court with various claims. The Supreme Court unanimously determined that the government conducted a fair, worthy, and lawful process. The responsibility is ours, and so is the authority: in the hands of the government,” Lapid added.
Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, discussed the deal with US President Joe Biden during their meeting at the White House yesterday (Wednesday).
“ Israel and Lebanon are going to sign an agreement to establish a permanent maritime boundary between your two countries. I think it’s a historic breakthrough. It took a lot of courage for you to step up and step into it. It took some real guts,” said Biden at the meeting.
