by whitehouse.gov — President Biden transcript: “Today, I am pleased to announce a historic breakthrough in the Middle East.  After months of mediation by the United States, the Governments of Israel and Lebanon have agreed to formally end their maritime boundary dispute and establish a permanent maritime boundary between them.  I have just spoken with the Prime Minister of Israel, Yair Lapid, and the President of Lebanon, Michel Aoun, who confirmed the readiness of both governments to move forward with this agreement.  I want to also thank President Emmanuel Macron of France and his government for their support in these negotiations.  

Energy—particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean—should serve as the tool for cooperation, stability, security, and prosperity, not for conflict.  The agreement announced by both governments today will provide for the development of energy fields for the benefit of both countries, setting the stage for a more stable and prosperous region, and harnessing vital new energy resources for the world.  It is now critical that all parties uphold their commitments and work towards implementation.  

This agreement also protects Israel’s security and economic interests critical to promoting its regional integration.  It provides Lebanon the space to begin its own exploitation of energy resources.  And it promotes the interests of the United States and the American people in a more stable, prosperous, and integrated Middle East region, with reduced risks of new conflicts. “

By voanews.com –– President Joe Biden on Tuesday hailed a U.S.-brokered maritime border agreement between Israel and Lebanon as a “historic breakthrough in the Middle East” that allows cash-strapped Lebanon to explore potential gas deposits in the Mediterranean Sea, while giving Israel more security and stability in the volatile region. “The agreement announced by both governments today will provide for the development of energy fields for the benefit of both countries, setting the stage for a more stable and prosperous region, and harnessing vital new energy resources for the world,” Biden said in a statement. “It is now critical that all parties uphold their commitments and work towards implementation.” The two neighbors have been formally at war for decades and have no official communication, so the deal was brokered over several months by American officials.

Israel discovered the massive deposits off its coast in 2010, but Lebanon raised concerns that the deposits may stretch into Lebanese waters. And Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah Party has threatened to protect what it claims is its territory. Speaking to journalists, a senior Biden administration official described the agreement as balanced. “This agreement is not a win-lose agreement,” said the official, who asked not to be named, as is common practice when the White House briefs reporters. “The parties are not getting more than the other because they get different things. The win for Israel is around security, stability and economic gain. The win for Lebanon is economic prosperity, economic development, foreign direct investment and hope for an economic recovery.”

Asharq Al-Awsat  — Lebanon and Israel have reached a historic agreement demarcating a disputed maritime border between them following years of US-mediated negotiations, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said on Tuesday. While limited in scope, a deal would mark a significant compromise between states with a history of war and hostility, opening the way for offshore energy exploration and easing a source of recent tensions. “This is a historic achievement that will strengthen Israel’s security, inject billions into Israel’s economy, and ensure the stability of our northern border,” Lapid said in a statement. In Lebanon, President Michel Aoun said the terms of the final US proposal were satisfactory and he hoped the deal would be announced as soon as possible.

The agreement is meant to resolve a territorial dispute in the eastern Mediterranean Sea in an area where Lebanon aims to explore for natural gas. Israel is already producing natural gas at fields nearby. It sets a border between Lebanese and Israeli waters for the first time and also establishes a mechanism for both countries to get royalties from an offshore gas field that straddles the boundary. The deal does not touch on their shared land border. Lebanese negotiator Elias Bou Saab told Reuters that the latest draft “takes into consideration all of Lebanon’s requirements and we believe that the other side should feel the same.” It was also endorsed by the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, which until recently has threatened to attack Israeli gas facilities, according to two officials. A senior Lebanese government official and an official close to Hezbollah said the group had agreed to the terms of the deal and considered negotiations “over.” Hezbollah has yet to formally comment. While Israel has moved ahead with production and export of natural gas, Lebanon’s efforts have been hamstrung by political dysfunction.

NNA – Caretaker Minister of Labor, Mustafa Bayram, launched Monday a platform that caters to providing job opportunities in Qatar, stressing that “with huge efforts this platform was completed, which allows any citizen, worker and graduate to enter and register.” Speaking during a press conference held at his Ministry office this morning, Minister Bayram gave an extensive review of the steps, contacts and consultations he held with the Qatari Minister of Labor and officials in several work sectors in Qatar and with Lebanese officials, led by the President of the Republic and the government, a number of relevant ministers and the Director General of Public Security, to facilitate this matter. He added he received all support and willingness to provide all facilities for the success of this step related to Qatari employment.

Bayram about the mechanism of using this platform and seeking employment in many sectors, while the role of Qatari companies would be to enter the platform and search for their demand among those who are qualified for their job openings. “We have no role in the recruitment process, and we are equidistant from all the Lebanese,” the Labor Minister asserted, noting that “the interaction will be between the private sector and the Lebanese youth,” and that “the platform is accessible to all Lebanese across the country.”

By Najia Houssari — Arabnews.com — BEIRUT: Lebanon’s president has hailed progress in the dispute with Israel over its southern maritime border, saying that US-led mediation efforts were close to finding a solution. Michel Aoun’s office said that the latest round of discussions had concluded and that Amos Hochstein, the lead US negotiator, was preparing a draft of a final agreement. “Reaching an agreement on the demarcation of the southern maritime borders means the start of the process of exploration for oil and gas in the Lebanese fields located within the exclusive economic zone,” Aoun said. He added that signing a deal would “mark the beginning of the economic recovery process.”

Hochstein told Aoun during a call on Sunday that the discussions had been wisely managed by Lebanon. The presidential palace announced that Lebanon would carefully study the final version of Hochstein’s proposal. The positive feedback comes days after Israel had rejected Lebanon’s revisions of the proposal. A spokesman for the US State Department told Al-Arabiya on Monday that Hochstein was working to resolve outstanding differences, adding that “we believe that a sustainable agreement is both possible and within reach.”

NNA – Lebanon reaped massive victory on the first day of the fourth annual Beirut Open Taekwondo Tournament, organized by the Lebanese Taekwondo Federation, under the auspices of the President of the Lebanese Republic, General Michel Aoun, and under the supervision of the International Federation, held at the Nohad Nawfal Complex Stadium in Zouk Mikael. Twenty countries are partaking in the tournament, namely Lebanon, Turkey, Congo, Ivory Coast, Iran, India, Greece, Libya, Iraq, Lesotho, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Kuwait, Morocco, Netherlands, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Syria and Oman.

NNA – “We do not want a settlements president,” said Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rahi, this Sunday from Bkerki, adding that “the Maronite Patriarchate does not distribute its support to specific candidates, contrary to what is being promoted by some.” “The time has come to reveal the features of the candidate for the presidency, […]

BEIRUT,  (Xinhua) — In the midst of a protracted economic crisis, Lebanese wineries are eyeing the lucrative Chinese market, calling for a joint effort among peers in boosting their sales in China. “China is one of the best markets to export our products,” Walid Habchi, co-founder and partner at Couvent Rouge winery, told Xinhua during the 13th edition of Vinifest, a four-day wine festival that kicked off in Beirut on October 5 and attended by more than 80 Lebanese wineries and spirits producers as well as hundreds of oenophiles from Lebanon and abroad. But tapping a new market requires a big bugdet to be used in areas such as market research, brand promotion and finding the right distributors, etc, Habchi said, adding Lebanese wineries should join their efforts and support each other throughout the process.

In order to grab a humble share of China’s wine market, Lebanese wineries need to work together so that they would be able to sell their products to China in quantities, said Thuraya Karam, owner of Karam wines. “At Karam wines, we have started targeting the Chinese market by participating in a virtual wine-tasting event, but we need more support to be able to enter the market sustainably,” Karam said. For his part, Gabriel Kechichian, a consultant at Domaine Wardy, said he hoped the international shipping costs could go down soon to facilitate the export of Lebanese wine. “Shipping costs have increased tremendously after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, and they are still expensive, but I hope they will drop soon, enabling us to resume our communication with Chinese companies to send our products,” said Kechichian.

Beirut – Thaer Abbas — aawsat.com — Lebanese officials downplayed the importance of reports that pointed to Israel’s rejection of Lebanon’s remarks on the draft agreement pertaining to the demarcation of the maritime borders. Lebanese officials said on Friday that they were waiting for US envoy Amos Hochstein to inform them of the Israeli position. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri told Asharq Al-Awsat that Lebanon would not take media leaks into consideration, but would wait for the official position that would be conveyed by the American envoy. “The Lebanese remarks are simple, and they were discussed with the US envoy before they were officially sent,” Berri underlined. What is happening now is “internal Israeli electoral bickering that does not concern us,” the Lebanese parliament speaker emphasized, noting that his country was waiting for an official response from Hochstein to proceed accordingly.

Information announced by Israel on Thursday about its rejection of the Lebanese comments on the border demarcation agreement sparked confusion amid Lebanese political circles. Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab, who is assigned by President Michel Aoun to follow up on the negotiations issue, said that Lebanon was “in contact with Hochstein, who is mediating the maritime border agreement with Israel to resolve the outstanding points as the negotiations reach a (decisive) point.” Bou Saab told Reuters on Thursday that he would only respond to official statements and not to media reports on Israel’s stance. He said the deal “is 90 percent done, but the remaining 10 percent could make it or break it,” adding that he was in constant contact with the US mediator.

By Mustafa Abu Sneineh — middleeasteye.net — Lebanese banks have voted unanimously to close their doors following a wave of hold-ups by angry depositors, who have been prevented from accessing their cash since September. Bank employees said on Friday that they would close indefinitely but that they would meet the urgent fiscal needs of individuals […]

سجعان قزي

@AzziSejean

المفاوضاتُ الجاريةُ لانتخابِ رئيسٍ جديدٍ للجُمهوريّةِ كَشفَت مرّةً أخرى عدمَ استيعاب غالبيّةِ الأطرافِ اللبنانيّةِ والدُوليّةِ بُعدَ الأزمةِ اللبنانيّةِ الحاليّةِ ولا عُمقَ القضيّةِ اللبنانيّةِ التاريخيّة. وحتّى لو اسْتوعَبتها، فليست مستعدِّةً لدفعِ ثمنِ الحلِّ الصحيح. والوفودُ الأجنبيّةُ التي أُرسِلت لحلِّ أزمةِ لبنان في ربعِ الساعةِ الأخيرِ، وهي لَـم تَحُّلها في ربعِ قرنٍ، تأتي هنا في مُهمّاتِ تَدرّجٍ، خصوصًا أنّها لم تَنجح في حلِّ أزَماتِ بلدانِها ولا أزمَاتِ بلدانٍ أخرى. وفي إطارِ مُهمّات التَدرُّج، زُوِّدَت بأسماء بمرشَّحين “جينيريك” لرئاسةِ الجُمهوريّةِ كأنَّ لدينا، مثلَ الدواءِ، نَدرةُ مرشَّحين أُصَلاء (براند). و”مِنَ الجينيريك جُوْد”.

إذا كان اهتمامُ الدولِ الغربيّةِ بلبنان ناتجًا عن تراكمِ أزَماتِه ودُنوِّ استحقاقاتِه الدستوريّةِ والسياسيّة، فهو نابعٌ أيضًا عن قرارٍ أميركيٍّ/أوروبيٍّ بمحاولةِ “تصفيةِ” القضايا الإقليميّةِ بعدما تَفاقَمت حربُ روسيا على أوكرانيا، وتكاد تتحوّلُ مواجهةً متعددةَ الأوجُهِ بين روسيا من جِهةٍ والاتّحادِ الأوروبيِّ والحلفِ الأطلسيِّ من جِهةٍ أخرى. وباستثناءِ المعركةِ العسكريّةِ المباشَرة، والتهديدِ بالسلاحِ النوويّ، المواجهةُ بين روسيا والغرب مفتوحةٌ اقتصاديًّا وماليًّا وتجاريًّا وغازيًّا، ومرشحّةٌ لأن تَتطوّرَ في المرحلةِ المقبلة ما لم يَحدُث تغييرٌ طارئ في روسيا، حيث نقمةُ الشعبِ الروسيِّ على الرئيس فلاديمير بوتين تزدادُ.

إن إقدامَ روسيا بوتين على التهديدِ باستعمالِ السلاحِ النوويِّ، بمنأى عن جِدّيتِه أو مناورتِه، سيَدفع الدولَ المشاركِةَ في مؤتمر ڤيينا حولَ الـمَلفِّ النوويِّ الإيرانيِّ إلى أن تكونَ أكثرَ تشددًّا في شروطِها لئلّا يصبحَ التهديدُ بالنوويِّ عادةً لا نعرف متى “تَنقُش”.