(War on the Rocks) Hanin Ghaddar - Israel will receive the most immediate benefits from the maritime border agreement between Beirut and Jerusalem, as it can now quickly begin to exploit existing energy reserves in the Karish gas field. Hizbullah has seen its resistance rhetoric take a major blow with its public recognition of Israel. Although this is officially an agreement between Lebanon and Israel, in reality, many in Lebanon see it as a deal between Hizbullah and Israel. According to Reuters, the group reviewed and approved the agreement line by line. I grew up in a Shia town in South Lebanon during the establishment of Hizbullah. The word "Israel" was taboo. If anyone dared to say "Israel," the immediate reaction was a forceful reminder that "it is called Palestine!" Yet in response to the maritime border deal, Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah said, "We do not have any problem with the agreement with Israel." He didn't say "occupied Palestine" or the "enemy state." For many Lebanese, this indicates a major shift in narrative and strategy. This creates a new reality where the state next door actually exists and is Lebanon's partner in gas. What's more, Hizbullah accepted U.S. mediation in the negotiations and acknowledged American diplomacy. The writer is a fellow in the Program on Arab Politics at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
2022-10-27 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive