Abkommen zwischen Israel und Libanon unterzeichnet

Ein wichtiger Schritt im Nahen Osten:

Lebanon and Israel officially signed off on a maritime deal with each other, a milestone for two countries that technically remain at war.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid separately signed their respective versions, which finally demarcate their borders within the Mediterranean.

“This agreement was written with the idea in mind that it was between two countries that don’t have diplomatic relations,” said Amos Hochstein, the US energy envoy who mediated the indirect negotiations, after meeting Mr Aoun and other senior Lebanese officials at the presidential palace in Baabda.(...)

Mr Lapid had earlier on Thursday claimed that “it is not every day that an enemy country recognises the state of Israel, in a written agreement, in view of the international community”.

Lebanese officials have repeatedly insisted that the deal does not represent a working relationship, let alone a step towards normalisation between the countries.

US President Joe Biden offered his congratulations as the parties "took the final steps to bring the agreement into force and submitted the final paperwork" at Naqoura.

"As I said when this historic agreement was announced, it will secure the interests of both Israel and Lebanon, and it sets the stage for a more stable and prosperous region.