NatSec Brief: September 15, 2022
JINSA Risks and Rewards of a Potential Israel-Lebanon Maritime Border Agreement | 1
Israel and Lebanon are reportedly nearing a resolution to their disputed maritime border, which could enable
each country to explore and exploit more fully oshore natural gas reserves. Yet, Hezbollah has threatened to
disrupt these eorts. Concrete U.S. leadership is required, both to realize the regional benefits of the peaceful
development of Eastern Mediterranean energy resources and to support Israel’s capability to deter and defend
itself against aggression by Hezbollah and its Iranian backers.
What Happened?
•
Reports indicate that, via mediation by U.S. Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Aairs
Amos Hochstein, Israel and Lebanon are close to demarcating their disputed maritime border in a swath
of the Eastern Mediterranean that could hold significant natural gas reserves.
»
According to a White House readout of a call between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister
Yair Lapid on August 31, “the President also emphasized the importance of concluding the maritime
boundary negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in the coming weeks.”
•
On August 10, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah threatened that “whether a nuclear deal with Iran is
signed or not, if the U.S. mediator does not give Lebanon what it asked for in terms of its rights, we are
heading towards an escalation—we are heading towards a problem.”
»
Aerward, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) went on high alert, and Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz
warned on August 22 that a Hezbollah attack on an Israeli gas field “could trigger a reaction, leading to
several days of fighting and to a military campaign.”
•
Aer a brief meeting in Beirut with Lebanese President Michel Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and
Prime Minister Najib Mikati on September 9, Hochstein said the two sides have made progress but more
work is necessary to reach an agreement.
Risks and Rewards of a
Potential Israel-Lebanon
Maritime Border Agreement
Ari Cicurel
Senior Policy Analyst
