US envoy hopeful on Lebanon-Israel sea border talks

An American envoy expresses optimism that Lebanon and Israel could move toward a maritime border deal to settle competing claims over offshore gas fields.

The maritime border dispute between the neighbors escalated in early June, after Israel moved a production vessel near the Karish offshore field, which is partly claimed by Lebanon.

The move prompted Beirut to call for the resumption of US-mediated negotiations on the demarcation dispute.

“I remain optimistic that we can make continuous progress as we have over the last several weeks and I look forward to coming back to the region and being able to make the final arrangements,” Amos Hochstein tells reporters after meeting Lebanon’s top leaders.

Hochstein is carrying an Israeli proposal in response to a demarcation offer made by Lebanon last June.