Israel agrees to U.S.-mediated maritime talks with Lebanon
Levant Basin, Eastern Mediterranean. Map: EIA.gov.
JERUSALUM (Bloomberg) -- Israel is willing to enter U.S.-mediated talks with Lebanon on setting a maritime border, the Energy Ministry said today.
Minister Yuval Steinitz 鈥渆xpressed Israel鈥檚 willingness for a round of Israeli-Lebanese talks mediated by the U.S., in an effort to set a maritime border for the benefit of both countries鈥 interests in the development of natural gas and oil reservoirs,鈥 the ministry said in a text message.
The two countries, which do not have diplomatic relations, have competing claims to a disputed maritime area said to be rich in oil and gas.