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Israel willing to renew talks with Lebanon on sea borders

The talks began last year and are being mediated by the United States, but hit an impasse in May.

Buoys designating Israel-Lebanon maritime borders. Credit: Chadica/Flickr.
Buoys designating Israel-Lebanon maritime borders. Credit: Chadica/Flickr.

Israeli Energy Minister Karine Elharrar said on Tuesday that the Jewish state is prepared to renew talks with Lebanon over the sea-border dispute in the Mediterranean, though its northern neighbor “cannot dictate the lines.”

“We need to look for a solution that leads to a breakthrough and not try to think in the old ways of drawing lines,” she told Reuters in an interview in Paris.

“We started (negotiations) by one line and then they (Lebanon) pushed the line. Pushing and pushing the lines literally. It’s not the way to have a negotiation. They cannot dictate the lines,” she said.

The talks began last year and are being mediated by the United States, but hit an impasse in May.

“We share a gas field and have to find a solution on how to use it so that each side will have its share of it in a fair way. We are willing to give it another shot,” said Elharrar in the interview.

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