The US mediator managing negotiations of the maritime border between Lebanon and Israel concluded a speedy trip to Beirut on Friday, saying the two sides had made "good progress" in the talks but that "more work needs to be done" to reach an agreement.
Amos Hochstein first met President Michel Aoun at presidential headquarters, then spoke with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati in the capital's Grand Serail. Both rounds of meetings were attended by top Lebanese officials and a US delegation, Lebanon's state media reported.
Mr Hochstein's visit this week is seen by Lebanese officials as an important step towards an agreement.
Lebanon and Israel, which remain technically at war, are negotiating over about 860 square kilometres of the Mediterranean believed to contain offshore gas reserves. The countries have both made overlapping claims in the territory and hope to soon begin exploration.
"I think we're making good progress," Mr Hochstein said following his meeting with Lebanon's president. "I'm very hopeful we can reach an agreement."
The US envoy was expected to relay the Israeli response to Lebanese conditions for the maritime border on Friday. In late July, when he was last in the country, he said he looked "forward to being able to come back to the region to make the final arrangement".
But an agreement remains intangible following this latest round of meetings, with the prime minister's office announcing Mr Mikati would hold consultations over the latest terms of the negotiations delivered by Mr Hochstein, then send word to the mediator.
"I'm very hopeful, but more work needs to be done," Mr Hochstein said at a press conference before his takeoff from the Beirut airport.
Speculation that a maritime border agreement between the two countries was imminent has swirled in recent weeks, after Mr Hochstein’s last trip to the region in early August.
He described his most recent visit as positive, as did Lebanese and Israeli officials.
But this week, Elias Bou Saab, Lebanon's deputy parliament speaker and lead negotiator, attempted to dispel speculation over an imminent deal.
The visit by Mr Hochstein would “not bring a definitive solution” to the maritime demarcation, he said on Tuesday. He added that talks were on track, with September expected to be a decisive month for the negotiations.
“We don’t want to let go of optimism, but we don’t want to say that we’re pessimistic,” Mr Bou Saab said.
Indirect negotiations between Lebanon and Israel were stalled for six months before the arrival of an Israeli-contracted floating production vessel to the disputed border in June, sparking tension that led to the resumption of talks.
The move prompted the Iran-backed Hezbollah group to threaten armed confrontation, with leader Hassan Nasrallah declaring that if Lebanon could not extract hydrocarbons from the disputed maritime border, “no one will”.
US officials have emphasised that finding a solution to the maritime dispute is a top priority for President Joe Biden's administration.
A deal would “yield greater stability, security and prosperity for both Lebanon and Israel, as well as for the region”, State Department spokesman Ned Price said last week.
