Hezbollah rejects Lebanese delegation at maritime border talks with Israel

Oct 14, 2020

Hezbollah today took issue with the Lebanese delegation chosen to participate in unprecedented talks with Israel over contested borders in the Mediterranean Sea.

Representatives from Israel and Lebanon gathered for talks facilitated by the United States aimed at resolving a dispute over access to 330 square miles in the oil-rich waters. Both Middle Eastern countries are hoping to develop new gas fields in the Mediterranean. 

In a joint statement released hours before the talks were due to start today, Hezbollah and Amal, the country’s other main Shiite party, called for the negotiating team to be revised to include only members of the military. 

Led by Brig. Gen. Bassam Yassin, the Lebanese delegation included Col. Mazen Basbous, Lebanese oil official Wissam Chbat and border control expert Najib Massihi.  

 “The two demand immediately rowing back from this decision and re-forming the delegation in line with the framework agreement,” the statement said. “Amal and Hezbollah announce their explicit rejection of what happened.”