Maritime Border Dispute

 

Negotiations have been taking place for years to resolve the maritime borders of Israel and Lebanon. The question took on a great significance with the discovery of gas in the area under dispute.

In the map below, there are four lines emanating from the land border crossing at Rosh Hanikrah. There are two gas fields involved in the disputed area Karish and further north Quana. Israel placed the border as the most northern line which kept the Karish field in Israel and also 40% of the Quana field. Lebanon countered this proposal with the most southern line maintaining Quana totally in Lebanon waters and also 50% of the Karish field.

As far as the negotiations have progressed so far, it appears there seems to be a compromise solution on the table giving Israel control od the Karish field and 17% of the Quana field. (line23)

At this moment in time, thr Karish field is almost ready to start pumping gas whilst exploration of the Quana field has not yet started. Thus, it is unclear whether there is gas there nor how much. The company Total Energy has the rights to drill in this field but it expected to take up to 10 years before gas can be extracted in commercial quantities.

Since Lebanon still refuses to accept Israel’s existence, the proposed financial agreement is planned to be between Total Energy and Israel, not Lebanon.

The Lebanese have stressed that this is not a first stage to normalization since Hezbollah are dictating this to the Lebanese government.

Is it a good agreement for Israel, this is not certain? Can the present caretaker government legally conclude such an agreement, also not certain?

So the question remain, do we have an agreement or not? Time will tell.