The US embassy in Beirut requested on Friday appointments for Acting US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Satterfield, who is expected in Lebanon next Tuesday carrying Israel’s response on resolving a dispute over the maritime border.
The US envoy is expected to inform officials about the Israeli responses to a number of issues in case the two sides start indirect talks on demarcating their border based on the negotiation mechanism proposed by President Michel Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
Last month, Israel said it was open to US-mediated talks with Lebanon on resolving the dispute. It also accepted a Lebanese demand to involve the United Nations in the effort and that both land and sea disputes be tackled together.
A source close to the talks told Asharq Al-Awsat on Friday that should Tel Aviv accepts Beirut’s proposals, a memorandum should be signed by both parties, guaranteed by Satterfield, who acts as a facilitator.
“Israel needs to answer questions related to the construction of the ‘White Line’, which Berri is very interested in implementing,” the sources said.
In past months, Lebanon conveyed to Satterfield its determination to demarcate the maritime border through a tripartite commission originally formed in April 1996 and that would cap it achievements by demarcating the maritime “White Line” border.
The sources said that Tel Aviv is also requested to remove violations against Lebanon’s water resources, in addition to lift threats against land border markers.
Lebanon also requests that the Israeli negotiating delegation be a military one, not diplomatic, and that include experts in maritime laws.
The sources said the delayed Israeli response is maybe linked to Iran’s downing of a US spy plane and the ensuing tensions in the region.
“We should wait for Tel Aviv’s responses to learn whether negotiations would kick off or whether Israel would rather delay negotiations,” the sources said.
