Lebanese President Michel Aoun said there are "positive signals" regarding reaching an agreement that ensures Lebanon’s interest and sovereignty over its waters and natural resources and leads to the resumption of oil and gas exploration.

He said in a televised speech today, Sunday, "Lebanese people, domestic concerns cannot make us forget the real confrontation to defend our sovereignty, liberate the rest of our land, and protect our rights in our waters, and our choice has been and remains indirect negotiations to demarcate our southern maritime borders."

He added, "There are positive signals beginning to appear toward reaching an agreement that ensures Lebanon’s interest and sovereignty over its waters and natural resources, and leads to the resumption of the oil and gas exploration process."

In October 2020, indirect negotiations began under the auspices of the United Nations and American mediation, as part of a framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel; five rounds of talks were held, the last of which was on May 4 last year.

During one of the previous negotiation sessions, the Lebanese delegation presented a new map pushing Lebanon’s share to an additional 1430 kilometers; which Israel rejects, while the negotiations have remained suspended ever since.

The disputed area covers 860 kilometers, according to maps submitted by Lebanon and Israel to the United Nations; however, the Lebanese negotiating delegation says the disputed area is 2290 kilometers.

Hostein arrived in Israel yesterday, Sunday, and held talks with the Israeli Minister of Energy, senior officials in the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Israel's security establishment.

President Joe Biden appointed Hostein last October as a mediator in the indirect negotiations between Israel and Lebanon to demarcate the maritime borders.