Aoun says no 'political implications' to Israel deal after Lapid remarks
President Michel Aoun denied Thursday that a maritime border deal due to be signed Thursday had "political implications," after Israel said the deal between the two enemy states amounted to Lebanon recognizing Israel.
"Demarcating the southern maritime border is technical work that has no political implications or effects contradicting Lebanon's foreign policy," Aoun said of the deal.
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid had earlier claimed that Lebanon's intention to ink the deal amounted to a de-facto recognition of the “State of Israel”.
"This is a political achievement -- it is not every day that an enemy state recognizes the State of Israel, in a written agreement, in front of the entire international community," Lapid said.
"The State of Israel won today. In security, economically, diplomatically, and in energy," Lapid added.
The final accord is due to be signed at the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the border town of Naqura, in the presence of U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein and the U.N.'s special coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka.
The deal was hailed by U.S. President Joe Biden as a "historic breakthrough" on Wednesday.
Source: Agence France Presse
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