Lebanon and Israel wrapped up the third round of maritime border talks to allow for offshore hydrocarbon exploration. The indirect talks mediated by the United States lasted for several hours. A joint US-UN statement said the talks had been "productive."
The first two rounds of talks were held on October 14 and 28-29. The negotiations are meant to focus on a 330-square-mile disputed sea area according to a map registered with the United Nations in 2011. Lebanon's National News Agency said both sides would reconvene on December 2.
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But Lebanon has now demanded an additional area of 1,430 square kilometers (900 square miles), Lebanese energy expert Laury Haytayan said, characterizing the new phase of talks as a "war of the maps." The additional area extends into part of the Karish gas field, which Israel has assigned to Greek firm Energean for exploration.
The United States and the UN Special "remain hopeful that these negotiations will lead to a long-awaited resolution."
