Amos Hochstein, Senior Advisor to U.S. President Joe Biden, underscored the significance of the maritime border agreement between Lebanon and Israel in an exclusive interview with Sky News Arabia.

Hochstein revealed that President Biden remains committed to securing this historic agreement, emphasizing that it represents the first-ever accord concerning the borders between the two Nations. He noted, “As a result, we have seen Total and ENI, the French and Italian companies, beginning gas exploration in areas in Lebanon for the first time.”

The senior advisor also highlighted the crucial role the maritime agreement plays in enabling such exploration, stating, “It was never safe to do so before. I returned to Lebanon just a few weeks ago. We want to see Lebanon in better economic conditions and prospering through what has been achieved.”

Additionally, Hochstein shared the broader U.S. approach in the Middle East, mentioning, “We are also working with the Palestinians to see how we can support them politically and economically. So, this is comprehensive; we want to see the entire Middle East more integrated, interconnected, and stable.”

He concluded, “If we achieve physical connectivity and economic integration, it will lead to more prosperity and also to peace. I believe this is the right approach, and President Biden is very committed to advancing this.”

As a reminder, Lebanon and Israel officially approved the United States-brokered maritime agreement that defines their maritime boundary for the first time in October 2023. As such, TotalEnergies, Eni and QatarEnergy commenced exploration activities on Block 9 in Southern Lebanon in August of the same year.

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