Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen has said the government is reviewing whether to cancel the maritime boundary agreement signed with Lebanon in 2022, which resolved a dispute over a gas-rich stretch of the eastern Mediterranean.
In an interview with Israeli Army Radio, Cohen characterized the deal — reached under a previous government — as “not a real agreement,” calling it instead “a surrender document.”
He contended that Lebanon obtained the full disputed area under the agreement in exchange for a “vague” security commitment that was never implemented.
What the Agreement Established
Lebanon and Israel signed the maritime demarcation agreement on October 14, 2022, under U.S. mediation, establishing rights for gas exploration and exploitation in the Mediterranean. Its principal provisions were:
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The maritime boundary was set at Line 23 between the two countries.
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Lebanon retained rights to the Qana gas field; Israel received full access to the Karish field.
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Israel was to receive financial compensation for the rights Lebanon assumed in the Qana field prior to production.
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The near-shore status quo was to remain unchanged pending resolution of other outstanding issues.
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The agreement was technical in scope and did not constitute Lebanese political recognition of Israel.