Lebanon and Israel agree on maritime border agreement for the first time

UNIFIL boat on the Lebanese coast (Creative Commons)

On October 13, Lebanon and Israel acceded to a maritime border agreement, ending dispute on their respective east coasts. This deal appeases both Lebanese and Israeli interests and marks the start of further resource discovery in the region.

Prior to this agreement, Lebanon and Israel disputed this maritime territory. The two assets of interest in this region are the Karish oil field and the Qana oil field. The Karish field falls into Israeli territory, but in 2020, Lebanon announced their right to the resources in the region. The Qana field falls mostly into Lebanese territory, but the southern section crosses into the Israeli area. According to Al Jazeera, this field is largely unexplored. The brokered deal between Lebanon and Israel delegated the Karish field to Israel and the Qana field to Lebanon. Lebanon retains full authority to drill and explore the Qana region with French company Total, although Israel is entitled to part of the revenue from this company’s discoveries. The precise details regarding Israeli compensation will be agreed upon at a later date. 

Lebanese President Michel Aoun has expressed satisfaction with this deal, stating “Lebanon did not concede a single square kilometer to Israel” and that Lebanon “[recovered] a disputed area of 860 square kilometers (330 square miles).” The deal provides Lebanon with resources to increase economic development and save its failing economy. Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid described the agreement as “an historic achievement that will strengthen Israel’s security.”; the Lebanese group Hezbollah, which has repeatedly threatened Israel in the past regarding maritime borders, has agreed to uphold this agreement. 

AlJazeera indicated that the timing of this deal is crucial to its implementation. Lebanon’s crippling economy desperately needs access to economic resources. Israel needs to implement this deal before its upcoming elections to ensure it occurs. Former Isreali Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described this deal as “historic capitulation” to Hezbollah and has indicated his disapproval. If he is elected next month, before the treaty is signed, its implementation is put at risk.

United States President Joe Biden congratulated both countries for reaching this agreement, stating “The agreement announced by both governments today will provide for the development of energy fields for the benefit of both countries, setting the stage for a more stable and prosperous region, and harnessing vital new energy resources for the world.” However, the agreement contains a loophole; it does not state what portion of revenue from the Qana field is delegated to Israel. The portion of revenue delegated to Israel from the Qana field has not been determined and may become a source of conflict later, especially considering Israel’s deal with Total.

While this historic agreement is a step in the right direction, Aoun stresses that “no normalization with Israel took place” as the two countries are still at war, making the impact of this deal on future Lebanese/Isreali relations unpredictable.