Israel's security cabinet approves maritime deal with Lebanon
Cabinet was discussing the deal prior to parliament viewing the agreement Wednesday evening
Israel's security cabinet approved on Wednesday an agreement on the maritime border between Israel and Lebanon.
Following a meeting where members of the cabinet reviewed the details of the deal they voted unanimously in favor of the agreement, except for Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked who abstained.
"There is importance and urgency in reaching the maritime agreement between Israel and Lebanon at this time. Cabinet members expressed support for promoting the approval procedures of the agreement by the government," an official statement said.
The US-mediated deal will be further presented for review to Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, on Wednesday evening.
According to the parliament’s Speaker Mickey Levy, the cabinet secretary requested for the Knesset to meet amid the ongoing Jewish High Holidays due to the “importance of the matter.” The lawmakers are set to meet at 1500 GMT.
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Prior to that, a cabinet meeting was held on Wednesday morning, which is to be followed by a vote by ministers on the agreement.
Despite the Speaker's recommendation, members of the Knesset will only review the terms of the deal but will not vote on its approval.
Earlier on Tuesday, Israel’s Prime Minister Yair Lapid announced reaching the “historic” deal with Lebanon on the disputed maritime border which was a subject of ongoing negotiations mediated by the US envoy Amos Hochstein.
The deal was also welcomed by Lebanon’s president Michel Aoun and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who has previously threatened Israel over the territorial dispute.
According to the recent opinion polls, 40 percent of Israelis welcomed the agreement, while 29 percent spoke against it.
Opposition Leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday criticized Lapid for a “historic surrender” and condemned his decision to approve the deal via cabinet vote only ahead of the upcoming November election.
Other Israeli politicians also argued that the agreement which involves the demarcation of borders should stand a vote in the Knesset or be submitted to a referendum.