Israel voiced openness on Monday to US-mediated talks with Lebanon on resolving a dispute over their maritime border.
Such talks, Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz's office said in a statement after he met US envoy David Satterfield, could be "for the good of both countries' interests in developing natural gas reserves and oil" by agreeing a border.
Satterfield, who is Acting US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, is set to return to Beirut next week to present Israel’s response to proposals made by Lebanon on drawing the land and sea borders between the two countries.
Lebanese leaders have said that they have a unified stance on the issue, and proposed that the delineation be made in coordination with the United Nations.
Satterfield told the officials last week that Israel had agreed to two important Lebanese demands - that the UN be involved in the mediation and that both land and sea disputes be resolved together.
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