Biden adviser: It’s time to work to draw the land border between Israel and Lebanon

Hochstein, Biden’s senior adviser for Energy and Infrastructure, held a press conference at Beirut’s international airport before leaving the country at the end of his two-day visit to Lebanon.

Noting the importance of Lebanon starting the drilling work in the gas fields in its own territorial waters as a result of the maritime border delineation agreement signed between Israel and Lebanon in October 2022 under the mediation of the US. , Hochstein said: “The arrival of the drill ship on August 24 shows how the pragmatic decisions of the Lebanese government have had positive results for the country is an indicator. The arrival of the ship is only the beginning”. he used his statements.

“THE TIME TO WORK ON THE LAND BORDER”

Drawing attention to the discussions and tensions over the land border between Lebanon and Israel, which is under the supervision of the United Nations Interim Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Hochstein said: “After operations began of drilling and gas extraction, the framework of “The agreement signed in the framework of the drawing of the maritime border must be reviewed and at the same time on the land border. I think it is time to work on it.” saying.

Stating that he came to the country to discuss the Lebanese government’s proposals on the land border agreement and listen to its opinion, Hochstein said: “I had the opportunity to go to the south and see the Blue Line (the UNIFIL-controlled border) and its surroundings in the place.” he said.

Hochstein said that after Lebanon will listen to the views of the Israeli side to make an assessment that the United States has always supported the policy of peace and stability and that this is definitely in Lebanon’s interest.

ISRAEL’S OCCUPATIONS ON THE BORDER

In the 1967 war with Syria, the Israeli army occupied the Golan Heights and then the Kefr Shuba Hills, the Shebaa farms and part of the village of Gajar, which Lebanon singled out as its own.

The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement dated July 4, warned that Israel has prohibited entry to the northern village of Gajar, thus seeking to expand the occupation zone, in clear violation of Resolution 1701 of the Security Council of The United Nations.

Hezbollah also reported on July 7 that Israel had occupied the entire village of Gajar, on the Lebanese border, and had built a wall around it.

In his July 10 statement, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Buhabib reiterated that Israel should withdraw from the village; On July 11, Lebanon complained to the United Nations about Israel’s total occupation of the village.

Brigadier General Munir Shahadi, a Lebanese army officer, claimed that there are 13 disputed areas on the “Blue Line” between Israel and his country, which is under the control of the United Nations Interim Peacekeeping Force (UNIFIL).

Shahadi also stated that the Blue Line is not an official land border between the two countries. (AA)