Lebanon and Israel sign sea border deal

By KAREEM CHEHAYEB
Associated Press

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon and Israel signed and delivered copies of a U.S.-mediated sea border deal following months of indirect talks. The Lebanese and Israeli delegations met at the border town of Naqoura on Thursday, where they delivered the separate copies at United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon headquarters. Lebanon and Israel both claim around 860 square kilometers (330 square miles) of the Mediterranean Sea that are home to offshore gas fields. Lebanon hopes that demarcating maritime borders will pave the way for gas exploration to help lift it out of its crippling economic crisis, which has plunged three-quarters of its population into poverty. Israel hopes that the deal will reduce the risk of war with Lebanon’s Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.