A day after the meeting of the three presidencies in Lebanon, Parliament announced, on Tuesday, the delivery of the response to the American ambassador in Beirut, who handed it over to the American mediator.
Elias Bou Saab, Deputy Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, said in a series of tweets through his official account on the social networking site “Twitter”, “Lebanon was handed over today to the American ambassador in Beirut, Dorothy Shea, in response to the amendments requested by Lebanon to the draft,” noting that the final approval On offer not yet come.
On the scenes of reaching the current point of the negotiations, Bousaab, who said that he was assigned by President Michel Aoun to follow up on the demarcation file, explained that his visit to New York City was for two reasons; The first was honored by an international organization, and the second was a meeting with the American mediator, Amos Hochstein.
Behind the scenes of the negotiations
He indicated that he was in almost daily contact with Hochstein, saying: “I had previously wished for him not to hand us his first proposal as it is, because we would not agree to it, so a meeting took place during which 5 proposals were put forward, and the American mediator accepted two of them after reviewing the Israeli side.”
While he said that he had informed Prime Minister Najib Mikati of the developments that were taking place in coordination with him, he added that he met for the first time with Hockstein when he received the file, which assured him of the need to push the negotiation dynamics to change on the basis that there is neither a loser nor a winner, but rather that each team obtains what it wants according to the interest of its country. .
He pointed out that Lebanon will not give Israel its share of the entire Qana field, adding: “The American mediator has found a shrewd solution with Total and the French (..) What matters to us is that Lebanon’s share is completely clear and complete.”
Two options for Israel
The deputy speaker of the Lebanese Parliament confirmed that “the American mediator Hochstein took into account Lebanon’s conditions to the last letter, that we refuse to make an agreement or treaty, and he found a solution by setting up a mechanism for understanding without normalization.”
And the Lebanese parliamentarian continued: Anything we do to demarcate our economic zone does not affect Ras Naqoura or the land, noting that Lebanon got its full share.
He explained that what is happening in Israel in the media, especially by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is nothing but electoral bids, pointing out that if the Israeli side were to obstruct these negotiations, it would have two options, the first of which would be to “disrupt” (toboil) all negotiations and thus stop drilling.
He pointed out that some statements issued by the countries of the Emirates, Jordan and Qatar, tell Lebanon that there is still hope; They encourage us to continue with the file.
He stressed that the Israeli side is fully aware that there is a refusal in Lebanon to prevent it from producing gas without the agreement, pointing out that there are two options before Lebanon; The first: stability and prosperity, or he will be facing a major crisis, not to say war.
He stressed that “negotiations over the maritime borders with Israel have ended”, and that Lebanon “taken its entire blocks” in accordance with the US draft agreement.
He continued, “I do not think that the proposed amendments will spoil the agreement on demarcating the maritime borders with Israel, and we will not pay a penny of our share in the Qana field to Israel, and this is at the heart of the agreement.”
Bou Saab added, “Signing the agreement is a decision by the President of the Republic, and I expect that things will not be delayed more than 15 days unless the Israelis decide to add amendments.”
The Deputy Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament said: “When the agreement ends, everyone will see it, but during negotiations, matters and details cannot be revealed,” noting: “President Aoun may be unjust in many things, but if the demarcation is completed, he will seal his reign with what we could not have been able to.” do over many years.”
On Monday, after the tripartite presidential meeting held at Baabda Palace, to study the proposal of the American mediator, Amos Hochstein, on the demarcation file, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati confirmed that things are on the right track.