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Lebanon to send feedback on US maritime border offer with Israel

Lebanon's President Michel Aoun heads a technical meeting to discuss the demarcation of the maritime borders with Israe, seen in this October 3 photograph provided by the Lebanese photo agency Dalati and Nohra
— Beirut (AFP)

Lebanon said Monday it will send remarks to Washington's proposal to resolve a maritime border dispute with Israel, with which it is technically still at war, over gas-rich waters.

A draft agreement floated by US envoy Amos Hochstein aims to settle competing claims over offshore gas fields and was delivered to Lebanese and Israeli officials at the weekend, following years of indirect negotiations.

On Monday, Lebanon's top leaders met to discuss the offer, delivered via Washington's ambassador to Lebanon, Dorothy Shea.

Crisis-hit Lebanon, which is grappling with its worst-ever financial downturn, will send its notes on the offer by "Tuesday at the latest", and hopes to receive a response "before the end of the week", deputy speaker Elias Bou Saab told reporters.

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