US offers to mediate as Israel, Lebanon remain 'far apart' on maritime border talks
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lamented the lack of progress between the two countries on their Mediterranean border.
An agreement on sea borders between Israel and Lebanon is far off, the top US diplomat said on Tuesday.
“Regrettably, despite goodwill on both sides, the parties remain far apart,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.
Israel and Lebanon began negotiations on their maritime border in October under US supervision following years of indirect talks. The border is important because of the presence of natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Israel is already pumping gas from the body of water.
The two states have never had formal diplomatic relations and there are several outstanding issues between them. Israel and the Lebanese organization Hezbollah are in an on-and-off state of conflict, for example.
