Israel govt. approves Lebanon maritime border deal

Israel's government on Thursday formally approved a maritime border deal with Lebanon, a U.S.-brokered agreement that paves the way for lucrative offshore gas extraction by the neighbors which remain technically at war.

"The Government of Israel... approved the agreement on a maritime boundary between Israel and Lebanon," a statement from Prime Minister Yair Lapid's office said, hours ahead of the expected signing of separate copies of the document by the two parties.

"It is not every day that an enemy state recognises the State of Israel, in a written agreement, in front of the entire international community," Lapid said, shortly before his government approved signing it.

Lebanon's President Michel Aoun denied that assertion, countering that "demarcating the southern maritime border is technical work that has no political implications".