A written offer concerning maritime border demarcation between Lebanon and Israel will be presented to Lebanese officials by the end of the week, Lebanon's presidency said on Monday.
Deputy parliament speaker Elias Bou Saab was in New York last week for talks with Amos Hochstein, the Israeli-born US diplomat mediating the maritime demarcation between the two countries, and briefed President Michel Aoun on the outcome, the presidency tweeted.
A source close to the negotiations underscored that a written offer would not constitute a formal agreement.
"It's not a formal agreement. We are just expecting to receive Hochstein's written proposal for the border delineation," the source said, adding the offer would finalise what was previously a verbal proposal.
"The Lebanese side gets a copy and the Israeli side gets an identical copy," the source said. If both sides agree to the terms of the offer they would then hold an indirect meeting in Ras el Naqoura ― the international border crossing between Lebanon and Israel ― to finalise details through US mediation.
Maritime border talks between Lebanon and Israel have proceeded at a distinctly faster pace since June, when tensions rose over an Israeli-contracted gas drilling ship's arrival near a disputed gas field. The talks had previously been stalled since last year.
The presence of the ship escalated tensions between the two enemy nations — technically at war since 1948. Upon the drilling rig's arrival at Karish, the Iran-backed Hezbollah group ― a Lebanese political party and paramilitary group designated as a terrorist organisation by the US, threatened to launch an attack if Israel extracted from the field before an agreement had been signed.
US, Lebanese and Israeli officials have for weeks heralded hopes that an agreement between Lebanon and Israel could be reached within days, following Mr Hochstein's speedy visit to the region in early September during which he met with Lebanese officials.
In an exclusive interview with The National, caretaker foreign minister of Lebanon Abdullah Bou Habib last week said a maritime deal had reached its final stages and confirmed that Hezbollah would neither block nor support a maritime deal between Lebanon and Israel.
“Hezbollah has no issue whatsoever with any agreement we reach as a state, I heard it from them and others did too,” Mr Bou Habib told The National last week.
But Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati shared a more reserved stance last week in an interview with London-based newspaper Asharq Al Awsat.
The border file is "not final yet," he told the newspaper.
Since a maritime dispute between Lebanon and Israel began in 2007, various rounds of US-mediated negotiations have taken place ― all falling short of a signed agreement.
The maritime dispute involves an 860-square-kilometre section of the eastern Mediterranean which is thought to be an area rich in hydrocarbons.
Israel seeks to partially fill the global energy gap left by Russia's war in Ukraine.
Lebanon hopes the discovery of hydrocarbons on its side of the border would contribute to its desperately needed economic recovery.
Since 2019, Lebanon has suffered one of the most severe economic crises to hit the world since the mid-19th century.
The UN says about 80 per cent of the previously upper-middle-income nation’s population has slipped into poverty.
The specs: Volvo XC40
Price: base / as tested: Dh185,000
Engine: 2.0-litre, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 250hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm @ 1,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.4L / 100km
Overview
What: The Arab Women’s Sports Tournament is a biennial multisport event exclusively for Arab women athletes.
When: From Sunday, February 2, to Wednesday, February 12.
Where: At 13 different centres across Sharjah.
Disciplines: Athletics, archery, basketball, fencing, Karate, table tennis, shooting (rifle and pistol), show jumping and volleyball.
Participating countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Qatar and UAE.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
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On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
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Torque: 331Nm from 5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.7L/100km
On sale: now
Price: Dh149,000
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
RESULT
Esperance de Tunis 1 Guadalajara 1
(Esperance won 6-5 on penalties)
Esperance: Belaili 38’
Guadalajara: Sandoval 5’
SRI LANKA SQUAD
Upul Tharanga (captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella
Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana
Chamara Kapugedara, Thisara Perera, Seekuge Prasanna
Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera
Vishwa Fernando, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
List of UAE medal winners
Gold
Faisal Al Ketbi (Open weight and 94kg)
Talib Al Kirbi (69kg)
Omar Al Fadhli (56kg)
Silver
Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Khalfan Belhol (85kg)
Zayed Al Mansoori (62kg)
Mouza Al Shamsi (49kg women)
Bronze
Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi (Open and 94kg)
Saood Al Hammadi (77kg)
Said Al Mazroui (62kg)
Obaid Al Nuaimi (56kg)
Bashayer Al Matrooshi (62kg women)
Reem Abdulkareem (45kg women)
Brief scoreline:
Wales 1
James 5'
Slovakia 0
Man of the Match: Dan James (Wales)
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Saturday's results
Brighton 1-1 Leicester City
Everton 1-0 Cardiff City
Manchester United 0-0 Crystal Palace
Watford 0-3 Liverpool
West Ham United 0-4 Manchester City
Brief scoreline:
Tottenham 1
Son 78'
Manchester City 0
