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Israel and Lebanon settle a dispute over gas drilling rights in the Mediterranean Sea

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

Israel and Lebanon have ended their longtime dispute over where to draw their border at sea. The U.S. mediated the deal between the two enemies. President Biden called it a historic breakthrough. NPR's Daniel Estrin reports from Tel Aviv on what prompted the deal.

DANIEL ESTRIN, BYLINE: The U.S. says it's the first time Israel and Lebanon have ever mutually agreed on a border between them. Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid echoed President Biden, calling it historic.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

PRIME MINISTER YAIR LAPID: (Non-English language spoken).

ESTRIN: He said Israel has been trying to reach this deal for more than 10 years and that it will strengthen the security of northern Israel. The matter in dispute was who gets natural gas fields off the Mediterranean coast. One is in disputed waters. Another is an Israeli waters where Lebanon laid a new claim two years ago. Israel recently made moves to extract gas there. And Lebanese militant group Hezbollah made threats of war. The details haven't been officially announced, but reportedly the two sides compromised on the border line. Israel will extract gas from one field, and Lebanon will explore for gas in the other potential field, with the U.S. and Israel saying Lebanon will share some of the revenues. Lebanon's chief negotiator, Elias Bou Saab, says the deal satisfies both sides.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

ELIAS BOU SAAB: (Non-English language spoken).

ESTRIN: He said it would provide economic stability and some hope to Lebanese with their economy in crisis and an electric grid that often provides just a couple hours of power a day.

RANDA SLIM: For Lebanon, it is a good deal.

ESTRIN: Lebanese American Randa Slim is a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington.

SLIM: It removes a source of tension and it opens prospects for Lebanon economic prospects. And we don't know how much gas that is. But still, even if some gas gets out, it can be used in the Lebanese domestic market. And it can provide a source of revenue for the country whose economy is in major dire straits right now.

ESTRIN: She thinks it could pave the way for negotiations over their land border now. Former deputy Israeli navy chief Shaul Chorev also thinks it's a step forward.

SHAUL CHOREV: Once you have such an agreement, it is the beginning of normalization, the relationships between us and Lebanon.

ESTRIN: But former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the deal is a capitulation to Hezbollah. And with Israeli elections just three weeks away, he says he won't consider himself beholden to the deal if he's voted back into office. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

Daniel Estrin is NPR's international correspondent in Jerusalem.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.