https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/us-state-department:-negotiations-only-way-between-lebanon-i

US State Department: Negotiations only way between Lebanon, "Israel"

The US State Department confirmed in a statement today, Friday, that the US "remains committed to facilitating negotiations between Lebanon and "Israel" to reach a decision on the delimitation of the maritime boundary."

The US State Department considered that "progress towards a resolution can only be reached through negotiations between the parties."

"The administration welcomes the consultative and open spirit of the parties to reach a final decision," she added, claiming that this decision "has the potential to yield greater stability, security, and prosperity for both Lebanon and Israel, as well as for the region, and believes a resolution is possible."

Following Nasrallah's speech, US mediator meets Israeli energy minister

Israeli media reported on July 14 that the US mediator, Amos Hochstein, met with Energy Minister Karine Elharrar in an attempt to move towards an agreement with Lebanon on the issue of maritime borders, "the most explosive issue now," following Hezbollah's Secretary-General speech on July 13.

The commentator for Arab affairs in the Israeli channel KAN said that "the American mediator, Amos Hochstein, who is accompanying Biden, met with Energy Minister Karine Elharrar, in an attempt to progress towards an agreement with Lebanon on the issue of maritime borders."

He added, "With all due respect to the very important Saudi affairs, this is the most explosive issue now, after Nasrallah's speech yesterday."

The Israeli media also quoted the Israeli Energy Minister as saying that she met with the American mediator for negotiations on the maritime borders with Lebanon, Amos Hochstein, and he did not "present the Lebanese position on the controversial issues."

"It seems that despite the severe energy crisis in Lebanon, the Lebanese leadership has not yet decided if it wants to conduct serious negotiations that lead to a solution to this issue," the Israeli minister added.

The Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, discussed on July 13 the latest political developments in Lebanon, the question of natural gas in the Mediterranean and the maritime borders, and presented the achievements of the resistance in the July war.

"The resistance is the only force Lebanon has to obtain its right to its oil and gas […] the extraction of [the natural resources] provides Lebanon with billions of dollars without the need for any foreign debt, and this is the only path for salvaging the country," he underscored.

He also said the resistance did not see the American mediator as a mediator, "but rather as a party that serves the interests of Israel and pressures the Lebanese side." He added that what brought Amos Hochstein on his last visit to Lebanon were two issues, "the dire need for securing an alternative to Russian gas and the resistance's serious threats."

Sayyed Nasrallah referred to "the resistance's right to take any step at the right time and the appropriate size to put pressure on the Israeli enemy."

Sayyed Nasrallah explained by adding that "The Resistance has the right to take any step of any gravity and at any time to pressure the Israeli enemy."

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/hamas-decries-saudi-airspace-opening-to-israeli-airways

Hamas decries Saudi airspace opening to Israeli airways

Palestinian resistance faction Hamas denounced Friday the Saudi decision to open its airspace to all Israeli airways and aircraft, describing the act as "a reward for the Israeli occupation."

"We reaffirm our rejection of all forms of normalization and contact with the Israeli occupation, which continues to practice Judaisation and settlement activity and violate the sanctity of Muslim and Christian holy sites," Hamas spokesperson Jihad Taha said in a statement.

The acceptance of the Saudi move among the Israelis shows that "normalization is a big favor to the Israeli occupation regime that will further strengthen its presence and influence in the region at the expense of Arab interests," another Hamas spokesperson, Hazem Qasem, told Sputnik.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced on Friday that Saudi Arabia is opening its airspace for all civil air carriers for overflying.

Riyadh's decision was planned amid US President Joe Biden's visit to West Asia, including to "Israel" and Saudi Arabia, the source told the media, calling the move a "small symbol of the budding relations" between the two nations.

Later on, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Biden welcomed and commended the opening of the Saudi airspace to all civilian air carriers, adding that it was the US President's persistence and diplomacy that resulted in this step.

In a statement published on the White House's website, Sullivan indicated that "President Biden welcomes and commends the historic decision by the leadership of Saudi Arabia to open Saudi airspace to all civilian carriers without discrimination, a decision that includes flights to and from Israel."

Israeli Transport Minister Merav Michaeli on Friday welcomed as an "important step" Saudi Arabia's decision to lift restrictions on all carriers using its airspace.

"Israeli flights will be allowed in Saudi Arabian airspace. This is an important step by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that will significantly shorten flight times and lower prices," Michaeli said in a statement.

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The Zelensky curse