At its center is the gas-rich Karish region in the eastern Mediterranean, which Israel plans to begin exploiting.
Orna Mizrahi, a senior research fellow at the Israel Institute for National Security Studies, told reporters at a briefing on Sunday that the main issue preventing a deal between the two sides was a “change in Lebanese stance”, where there was a maritime border between Israel and Israel. . Lebanon lies.
What is the current Lebanon-Israel dispute about?
The crux of the dispute is actually about the maritime economic boundary between the two countries, and how to calculate the boundary line that extends from the land border of Lebanon and Israel.
Over the years the disputed area spans some 860 square kilometers, with Lebanon claiming its maritime border south of Israel’s claim. Under those boundary lines, the Karish region was located well within Israel’s claimed territory.
But recently, Lebanon revised its original maritime boundary claim, moving it further south and adding about 1,400 km to the originally claimed area, according to Mizrahi. Additional territory includes part of the Karish region that Israel is exploring.
Why has this controversy erupted now?
On 5 June, when Energean, a London-based oil and gas exploration company, reached out to Israel to begin development of Karish, Lebanon argued that the field should not be developed until it Don’t be a sea painting, don’t run out of bounds. Conversation.
Why does this conversation matter?
Struggling with a crippled economy and fractured government, Lebanon desperately needs new sources of revenue from oil and gas exploration, while Israel positions itself as an alternative to Russia as a new natural gas supplier to Europe. keeps. willing to install. The delimitation of the border would allow both sides to exploit the resources of the Mediterranean without legal barriers or threats of potential military confrontation.
“Lebanon, more than Israel today, needs this deal,” said Lebanese energy expert Laurie Hetayan, adding that a deal would allow Israel to explore and drill with Lebanon without the “continued threat of potential escalation”. Will give will give
What is the current status of the talks?
digestion
US imposes new sanctions on Iran, targets Chinese, UAE companies
According to the US Treasury Department, the US on Thursday issued new sanctions related to Iran. The new sanctions targeted a network of Chinese and United Arab Emirates companies and Iranian firms that help export Iranian petrochemicals.
- background: The US approved a network of Iranian petrochemical producers as well as “front companies” in China, the UAE and Iran, saying they were “subsidiaries in broking” in the export of Iranian petrochemicals, read a Treasury statement. The network is also engaged in facilitating international transactions and evasion of sanctions, the statement said. The Chinese and Emirati companies could not be reached by Reuters for comment.
- why it matters: The move could increase pressure on Iran to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, which would curb Iran’s nuclear weapons capabilities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. As the deal neared completion, talks have stalled since March, when the US terror designation of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard emerged as the final sticking point.
Israeli police end investigation into conduct during funeral of Shirin Abu Akleh
- background: Television footage showed officers beating mourners with batons, almost forcing them to drop the coffin. Israeli police at the time said they were responding to objects and rocks being thrown at the police. Shabtai said police had investigated the conduct of forces on the ground, but blamed those attending the funeral for the way the incidents unfolded: “We must learn [the lessons from] So that in future such sensitive incidents are not harassed by violent rioters and they are respected.
- why it matters: Israeli police came under severe criticism after the procession, with the White House calling the images “disturbing” and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying he was “deeply disturbed by the images of Israeli police infiltrating a funeral procession. ”
The ‘Jamal Khashoggi Way’ sign unveiled in front of the Saudi Embassy in Washington, DC
- background: US intelligence report got last year Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has “sanctioned an operation in Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi,” which MBS has denied.
- why it matters: The “Jamal Khashoggi Way” has been unveiled a month before Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia, where he is scheduled to meet with MBS. The state’s human rights record and visits by members of his party and human rights advocates have already drawn criticism over the journalist’s killing.
around the area
The artifacts were statues of Egyptian pharaohs, including Amenhotep III and Amun-Ra, as well as the ancient Egyptian god Horus. One of them was a stone mural.
Antiquities theft and smuggling in Egypt increased after the 2011 uprising, which saw theft of relics through museums as well as illegal excavations. The North African country is intensifying efforts to locate and recover its stolen treasure.
photo of the Day
