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Last February, a Lebanese MP met Amos Hochstein, the lead mediator in the Lebanese-Israeli maritime border negotiations, in Washington. The parliamentarian was told that the settlement of disputed spots along the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel is on the right track and the issue is being debated intensively. The 13 contentious points stretch from Ras el-Naqoura in the west to the town of Ghajar to the east.
The settlement seems to be in its final phase, necessitating indirect communication between Lebanon and Israel. In this context, Hochstein’s recent visit to Israel is pertinent. According to the information gathered, seven points have already been settled and do not require further debate, while the remaining six call for further negotiations. These include the three most controversial spots, among them the fate of the village of Ghajar.
In this regard, some information highlights the fact that the problem surrounding the village of Ghajar is not over the geographical boundary, but rather lies in the unwavering resistance of its residents, particularly those on the Lebanese side, to be placed under Lebanese sovereignty. Instead, they express a clear preference to maintain their status under Israeli rule, holding onto their Israeli identities and travel documents. In fact, the inhabitants of Ghajar identify themselves as Syrians and have never been placed under Lebanese sovereignty, well before the Israeli occupation of the area in 1967.
Informed sources have suggested that recent escalations along the Blue Line may serve as a prelude to finalizing the process of settling the controversial points. Seemingly, Hezbollah is inclined to leverage this bargaining chip with both the Americans and Israelis, as was the case with the dynamics witnessed during the delineation of the maritime borders. In exchange, the Shiite party hopes to maintain its dominance and that of its allies over Lebanon.
Nonetheless, the purported settlement leaves the fate of the occupied Shebaa Farms and the hills of Kfarshouba hanging in the balance. The issue at hand is not solely a Lebanese-Israeli problem but fundamentally a Lebanese-Syrian impediment. Syria adamantly refuses to provide any documentation sustaining Lebanon’s claim over this area reducing the entire matter to mere rhetoric that falls short of meeting the standards set by international law.
Syria’s refusal to cooperate on the matter, as well as other issues pertaining to Lebanon’s maritime and territorial borders, deprives Lebanon of the necessary documents to effectively raise and settle the issue at the United Nations and safeguard its rights under international law.
