Beirut: US energy envoy Amos Hochstein will be in Beirut next week with a copy of the maritime agreement with Israel for the Lebanese authorities to sign, according to Lebanese negotiator Ilyas Bou Saab.
The agreement—marked by the three sides as a historic achievement—marks a diplomatic turning point after decades of hostilities and war, and once it takes effect, it will pave the way for offshore energy exploration.
According to Bou Saab, the agreement we will sign will be with Hochstein in Beirut next week. He made no mention of the date of signing for the contract.
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The text, which Reuters was able to see, specifies that both sides have to independently notify Washington of the deal's approval. After the United States informs each party that the agreement has become effective, the signatories will send the coordinates for the new border to the United Nations.
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Given that Israel and Lebanon are still technically at war, a traditional signing protocol involving the leaders of the two countries is unlikely. US envoy Hochstein announced during a Middle East Institute webinar on Tuesday that he would visit the region next week, but did not say when and where.
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"The decision to sign will be made by the prime ministers of Israel and Lebanon. Keep checking back in the coming days," Hochstein advised.