...an Iranian colony situated on the eastern Mediterranean, conveniently adjacent to Israel. Formerly inhabited by hardy Phoenecian traders, its official language is now Arabic, with the usual unpleasant side effects. The Leb civil war, between 1975 and 1990, lasted a little over 145 years and produced 120,000 fatalities. The average length of a ceasefire was measured in seconds. The Lebs maintain a precarious sectarian balance among Shiites, Sunnis, and about a dozeen flavors of Christians. It is the home of Hezbollah, which periodically starts a war with the Zionist Entity, gets Beirut pounded to rubble, and then declares victory and has a parade. The Lebs have the curious habit of periodically murdering their heads of state or prime ministers...and Israel have "accepted the American mediator's proposal for an agreement on the maritime border between the countries."
"We are conducting discussions on the final details, so it is not yet possible to congratulate on the finality, but as we demanded from day one, the proposal fully preserves Israel's political-security interests, as well as our economic interests," Lapid told his Cabinet.
He added that Israel has been trying to reach this deal for more than ten years.
"The security of the north will be strengthened, the Karish rig will operate and produce gas, the money will enter the state coffers and our energy independence is guaranteed. This is a deal that strengthens Israeli security and the Israeli economy," Lapid reassured.
He also said Israel would not oppose the development of "an additional Lebanese gas field" straddling the maritime border, as long as Israel receives "the share we deserve."
"Such a stockpile will weaken Lebanese dependence on Iran, curb Hezbollah and bring regional stability," he added.
Lapid also said that the U.S. mediator’s offer is now "under legal review."
"After the review is finished, we will bring the decision, together with Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Alternate Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, in coordination with the Legal Advisor to the Government, for discussion and approval," Lapid went on to say.
On Saturday, the proposal was also delivered to Lebanese leaders.
Lebanon and Israel have been officially at war since Israel's creation in 1948 and both countries claim some 860 square kilometers of the Mediterranean Sea.
Amos Hochstein, a senior adviser for energy security at the U.S. State Department who has been mediating between the two neighbors, last visited Beirut in September, where he expressed optimism after meeting with Lebanon's leaders.
Lebanon's parliament speaker, Nabi Berri, said in an interview with the London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper Saturday the proposal "in principle meets the Lebanese demands."
Lebanon hopes to unleash offshore oil and gas production as it grapples with the worst economic crisis in its modern history, plunging three-quarters of its population into poverty.