MADRID, 23 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Supreme Court of Israel has unanimously given its approval this Sunday to the signing of the maritime agreement with Lebanon after rejecting all the appeals presented against a pact that could end up definitively signed this next week.
The agreement is now in the hands of the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, which will transfer the document to the Council of Ministers with a view to its formal approval on Wednesday or next Thursday, according to the sources of the ‘Times of Israel’.
The requests for appeal came mainly from right-wing and nationalist organizations such as Lavi or the Kohelet Forum, as well as from the deputy for Jewish Power, Itamar Ben Gvir.
These appeals proposed various options such as holding a referendum or freezing the signature until the November elections, but the Court has seen no reason to accept any of these options.
The pact recognizes the border set with buoys by Israel, allowing Lebanon to enjoy the exploitation of the area north of Line 23, including the Qana field. Israel would retain control of Karish and has said it could start work in the area, amid threats from the Lebanese Shiite militia party Hezbollah.
Israel and Lebanon — which are technically at war and do not maintain diplomatic relations — began a process of indirect talks in October 2020, mediated by the United States and held under the auspices of the United Nations at the headquarters of the international organization. in the Lebanese city of Naqura.
The negotiations have revolved around an area of ??860 square kilometers that, according to both countries, is located in their respective Exclusive Economic Zones, a matter of special importance after the discovery of gas reserves in this area that both Israel and Lebanon hope to be able to blow.
