Lebanon has said it received a letter from US envoy Amos Hochstein containing "proposals" on a maritime border deal with Israel that could settle competing claims over offshore gasfields.
President Michel Aoun met US ambassador Dorothy Shea "who handed him a written letter ... containing proposals regarding the demarcation of the southern maritime border," his office said on Saturday.
Ms Shea also met Prime Minister Najib Mikati and "delivered a written offer from the US mediator", Mr Mikati's office said.
The US Embassy in Beirut said Ms Shea also met Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to present Mr Hochstein's proposals.
Mr Aoun contacted Mr Mikati and Mr Berri to discuss ways to follow up on the offer and deliver Lebanon's response "as quickly as possible", the presidency said.
Lebanon and Israel, whose land border is UN-patrolled, have no diplomatic relations.
They resumed maritime border negotiations in 2020, but the process was stalled by Beirut's claim that the map used by the UN in the talks needed to be modified.
The US-mediated negotiations restarted in early June after Israel moved a production vessel near the Karish offshore field, which is partly claimed by Lebanon.
Saturday's announcement followed a string of statements by Lebanese officials, including Mr Aoun and Mr Mikati, expressing optimism that a deal with Israel was near.
"The Lebanese response will be made as soon as possible, in preparation for the next step," an official at the president's office told AFP on Saturday.
Last month, Mr Aoun told the UN's special co-ordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, that "negotiations to demarcate the southern maritime borders are in their final stages".
Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
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