The American envoy Amos Hochstein initiated contacts with Lebanese parties in recent days, according to Al-Akhbar newspaper. He informed them that "all negative atmospheres stem from certain parties on your side, and we or the Israelis have nothing to do with it. Rather, we see that there is progress that allows for reaching an agreement." He added: "When I visited Lebanon recently, I crossed from Naqoura to Tel Aviv at night, but the officials in Israel were preoccupied with the war on Gaza, and the small ministerial meeting did not address the issue of border demarcation. I met with the Prime Minister, and we agreed on a positive framework." He concluded: "I am awaiting a scheduled meeting in Israel in a few days, and many steps will follow based on that."
Informed sources on the demarcation file told "Al-Jumhuriya" that the atmosphere is positive regarding the possibility of reaching an agreement soon, as Washington and Tel Aviv are now obligated to acknowledge Lebanon’s rights and maritime borders and cannot delay this file. The Lebanese stance this time is firm, with no retreat, and there is no intention to accept any Israeli postponement, even after the Knesset elections. These sources noted that Washington and Tel Aviv are taking more seriously than ever the threats from Hezbollah's Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah to prevent Israel from extracting gas and oil and from exploring in the Mediterranean Sea unless Lebanon's rights and borders are recognized, allowing it to explore and extract in return, under fixed and non-violable guarantees.
