A Bundle Of Diversified Reports Covering U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s Visit To Lebanon/رزمة تقارير تغطي زيارة وزير خارجية أميركا للبنان

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In Beirut, Tillerson Says Hizbullah Actions Threaten Lebanon, Region
Agence France Presse/Associated Press/Naharnet/February 15/18

Hizbullah’s actions pose a threat to the security of Lebanon and have a destabilizing influence in the Middle East, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Thursday. “Hizbullah is not just a concern for the United States. The people of Lebanon should also be concerned about how Hizbullah’s actions, its growing arsenal, bring unwanted and unhelpful scrutiny on Lebanon,” Tillerson said in Beirut after talks with Prime Minister Saad Hariri. “Hizbullah entanglement in regional conflicts threatens the security of Lebanon and has destabilizing effects on the region,” he said of the Iran-backed Lebanese movement. Hizbullah, branded a “terrorist” organization by the United States, is a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has fighters on the ground in the war-torn country supporting the regime. “Their presence in Syria has perpetuated the bloodshed, increased the displacement of innocent people and propped up the barbaric Assad regime,” Tillerson said at a news conference with Hariri. “Their presence in Iraq and Yemen has also fueled violence. And the consequences of Hizbullah’s involvement in these far-off conflicts — which have nothing to do with Lebanon — are felt here,” he added. Hizbullah’s influence was at the heart of a political crisis in Lebanon over Hariri’s shock resignation announced from Saudi Arabia in November that was later rescinded.
On Wednesday, speaking in Amman, Tillerson conceded that Hizbullah is part of the “political process” in Lebanon, appearing to soften Washington’s tone. “We support a free, democratic Lebanon free of influence of others, and we know that Lebanese Hizbullah is influenced by Iran. This is influence that we think is unhelpful in Lebanon’s long-term future,” he said. “We also have to acknowledge the reality that they also are part of the political process in Lebanon.” Later, U.S. Undersecretary of State Steve Goldstein said however that Lebanon “would be better off without Hizbullah’s terrorism and malign influence.”The Beirut visit comes amid a new U.S. effort to squeeze Iran with sanctions against Hizbullah and the Trump administration is hitting Hizbullah’s financial network with new penalties as part of its efforts to limit Iran’s influence throughout the region. Tillerson also said that the U.S. administration is “engaging with the governments of both Lebanon and Israel to ensure Lebanon’s southern border remains calm,” amid tension with Israel over gas drilling rights. He said: “If an agreement” between Israel and Lebanon can be reached over drilling rights, it will help Lebanon and neighboring countries to prosper for years to come.
Tillerson added that the discussions were positive on how to break the “stalemate” with Israel over the gas drilling rights. “We’ve asked no one to give up anything. Rather, we’re looking for a solution,” Tillerson told reporters. The U.S. has been trying to mediate in the dispute, and Tillerson suggested Israel should stop building a border wall until the border between the two countries is agreed on. “Let’s get the border agreed first and then people can think about if they need a security wall or not at that point,” Tillerson said. Tillerson, during his short visit, also reinforced support for Lebanon’s government headed by Hariri and for the Lebanese armed forces, which is a major recipient of U.S. military assistance. “And we remain committed to helping Lebanon and the Lebanese people prosper through the development of their natural resources in agreement with all of their neighbors,” he added.
Hariri for his part said: “What is ours is ours and what is Israel’s is Israel’s. We are trying to find solutions that will be fair to us and fair to everyone.””The U.S. has demonstrated that investing in Lebanon yields quick and fruitful results,” the premier said at the beginning of the news conference.
“This support is directly aligned with my priority to build our state institutions. It is the only way to guarantee our stability and our democracy. Our democracy which will be reaffirmed in free and fair elections, 12 weeks from today,” he added. “As I pointed to Secretary Tillerson, the commitment by all in Lebanon to the policy of disassociation is today a collective responsibility. It is closely monitored by all State institutions to ensure it is executed to Lebanon’s national interest in keeping the best relations with Arab countries and the International Community at large,” he added. Hariri also emphasized that Lebanon is committed to U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1701 and 2373. “We want to move to a state of permanent ceasefire but Israel’s daily violations of our sovereignty hinder that process, as does Israel’s escalating rhetoric. This needs to stop. Lebanon’s southern border is the calmest border in the Middle East and I asked Secretary Tillerson to help keep it that way,” the premier added.

U.S. Secretary of State in Lebanon, Meets Senior Officials
Agence France Presse/Associated Press/Naharnet/February 15/18/U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited Lebanon Thursday where he held talks with senior Lebanese officials. Tillerson’s visit, part of a tour of the Middle East, comes at a time of tension between Lebanon and neighboring Israel, notably over the role of Hizbullah and Israel’s encroachment on the country’s land and maritime border. Tillerson first met with President Michel Aoun and has reportedly discussed Lebanon’s gas and border dispute with Israel. Tillerson left the meeting with Aoun without making a statement, but he signed the visitors’ guest book at the Baabda Presidential Palace, marking his first official visit to Lebanon. The U.S. embassy said on its Twitter page that Tillerson “discussed with Aoun and Foreign Affairs Minister Jebran Bassil the U.S.-Lebanese bilateral relations, reiterating the U.S. support for Lebanese state institutions, especially the Lebanese army and for a strong, stable and prosperous Lebanon.”He later held talks with Speaker Nabih Berri at Ain el-Tineh. The embassy said Tillerson “reaffirmed to Berri the importance of the close U.S.-Lebanese partnership as the two countries work together to pursue common goals that advance Lebanon’s sovereignty, stability, and prosperity.” The U.S. diplomat then headed to the Grand Serail where he met with Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Israel has recently escalated its threats over Lebanon’s invitation for offshore gas exploration bids along the countries’ maritime border.
Israel claims that Lebanon will be drilling in areas owned by Israel. Lebanese officials contest those claims, saying the area where it plans to drill belongs to Lebanon. The long-standing dispute resurfaced recently as Lebanon invited companies to sign exploration deals. U.S. officials have previously tried to mediate the dispute. The Iran-backed group Hizbulah, a member of Hariri’s government, is an arch-foe of Israel and branded a “terrorist” organization by the United States. It is a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has fighters on the ground in the war-torn country supporting the regime.
Hizbullah’s influence was at the heart of a political crisis in Lebanon over Hariri’s shock resignation announced from Saudi Arabia in November that was later rescinded.

Tillerson: Growing Hezbollah arsenal a threat to Lebanon
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English/Thursday, 15 February 2018/
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Thursday Hezbollah’s growing arsenal and its involvement in regional conflicts threatened the security of Lebanon.
He said that Hezbollah “is a terrorist organization” and there is no distinction between its political and military wings.” He stressed that “Hezbollah has increased the conflict in Syria and the region” and it must stop its activities abroad. Tillerson, in a Beirut news conference, also urged Lebanese leaders to uphold the country’s commitment to staying out of regional conflicts. Tillerson said in a joint press conference with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri that Washington was engaging with Lebanon and Israel to ensure the border remained calm. “Hezbollah is not just a concern for the United States. The people of Lebanon should also be concerned about how Hezbollah’s actions, its growing arsenal, bring unwanted and unhelpful scrutiny on Lebanon,” Tillerson said in Beirut. “Hezbollah entanglement in regional conflicts threatens the security of Lebanon and has destabilizing effects on the region,” he said of the Iran-backed Shiite movement, which is part of the Lebanese government.
Hezbollah, branded a “terrorist” organization by the United States, is a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has fighters on the ground in the war-torn country supporting the regime. “Their presence in Syria has perpetuated the bloodshed, increased the displacement of innocent people and propped up the barbaric Assad regime,” Tillerson said at the news conference with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Tillerson added that he had not asked Lebanon “to give up anything” on its dispute with Israel over their maritime border. “We are looking for a solution,” he said.
On Wednesday, speaking in Amman, Tillerson had appearing to soften Washington’s tone, conceding that Hezbollah is part of the “political process” in Lebanon. Hezbollah’s influence was at the heart of a political crisis in Lebanon over Hariri’s shock resignation announced from Saudi Arabia in November that was later rescinded. Tillerson’s visit comes at a time of tension between Lebanon and Israel — which fought a devastating war with Hezbollah in 2006 — over issues such as offshore energy exploration.
Lebanon is upset about Israel’s construction of a dividing wall along the border between the two countries, which are still technically at war. Lebanon says part of the wall follows the UN-demarcated “Blue Line” that was drawn up after Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000, and insists some sections will cut into its territory. “We are engaging with the governments of both Lebanon and Israel to ensure Lebanon’s southern border remains calm,” Tillerson said. “And we remain committed to helping Lebanon and the Lebanese people prosper through the development of their natural resources in agreement with all of their neighbors.” US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in Lebanon on Thursday for a short visit, during which he was expected to announce a firm stance against the militia. Rex Tillerson’s six-hour visit, amid tight security, is the first visit by a US official in four years. Tillerson met Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Saad Hariri. With Reuters and AFP

Tillerson urges Lebanon to distance itself from the Hezbollah militia
By Carol Morello/The Washington Post/February 15/18
BEIRUT — Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged Lebanon on Thursday to distance itself from the Hezbollah militia as he met with senior government officials, including political allies of the group the United States considers a terrorist organization.
After arriving from Jordan for a visit of just a few hours, Tillerson went directly to Baabda Palace to meet with President Michel Aoun, who maintains close relations with the group. The secretary of state said it is in Lebanon’s best interests to “dissociate” itself from Hezbollah, an ally of Iran, and its foreign adventures. “Hezbollah’s presence in Syria has only perpetuated the bloodshed, increased the displacement of innocent people and propped up the barbaric Assad regime,” Tillerson said in a news conference with Prime Minister Saad Hariri, whose coalition government includes the group.
“Their presence in Iraq and Yemen has also fueled violence. And the consequences of Hezbollah’s involvement in these far-off conflicts — which have nothing to do with Lebanon — are felt here.”Tillerson’s stop in Beirut represents an effort to push back against Iran’s influence in the region, a major component of U.S. policy in the Middle East. It is one reason the United States is likely to maintain a military presence in Syria long after Islamic State militants are routed. Hezbollah poses a threat to neighboring Israel, and the militia battled in Syria alongside the Lebanese Army against Islamic State fighters.
[Tillerson says investment in Iraq is critical to avoid Islamic State’s return]
Earlier this month, the Trump administration imposed sanctions against people associated with Hezbollah, which the United States designated as a terrorist group two decades ago. Officials described it as a first step in the administration’s efforts to battle Iran’s support for armed groups throughout the region.
“It is unacceptable for a militia like Hezbollah to operate outside the authority of the Lebanese government,” Tillerson said. “The only legitimate defender of the Lebanese state is the Lebanese Armed Forces. At a news conference in Jordan on Wednesday, Tillerson called Iran’s backing of Hezbollah “unhelpful” to Lebanon, but said the reality is that “they also are part of the political process in Lebanon.” A State Department official later clarified that the United States believes Lebanon would be “better off without Hezbollah’s terrorism and malign influence.” In his talks with Aoun, Hariri, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil and parliament speaker Nabih Berri, Tillerson also waded into a long-simmering maritime border dispute between Israel and Lebanon. In some ways, the talks were in the wheelhouse of the former ExxonMobil chief. They involved offshore oil and natural gas exploration in a patch of the Mediterranean Sea. Lebanon recently signed a deal with an international consortium to start drilling in an area that Israel claims belongs to it. The consortium involves companies from France, Italy and Russia. Tillerson’s penchant for arriving early caused a minor flap in Lebanon when he showed up a few minutes ahead of schedule for his meeting with Aoun. In footage widely viewed on television, Tillerson was shown sitting alone, just waiting, beside an empty chair. After two or three minutes, the Lebanese foreign minister walked in and they shook hands. The Lebanese media characterized the lapse as a gesture of coolness, although Lebanese officials denied it had any meaning whatsoever. If it did, Tillerson didn’t seem to care. In the prime minister’s visitor book after they talked, Tillerson thanked him for a warm, frank and productive discussion. “The United States stands with the Lebanese people for a free and democratic Lebanon,” he wrote.
**Carol Morello is the diplomatic correspondent for The Washington Post, covering the State Department. Follow @CMorelloWP

Aoun To Tillerson: Lebanon Is Sticking To Its Borders, Rejects Israeli Claims Over Disputed Area
Arab News/February 15/18/Aoun to Tillerson: Lebanon is sticking to its borders, rejects Israeli claims over disputed area/
Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun told US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that Lebanon is sticking to its internationally recognised borders Thursday and rejected Israeli claims over a disputed area in Lebanese waters.
During a brief stopover in Beirut as part of a regional trip, he added that Lebanon was committed to preserving calm on its southern border and urged Washington to play an “effective role” to help resolve Beirut’s land and maritime disputes with Israel.Aoun also urged the United States to “work on preventing Israel from continuing its assaults on Lebanese sovereignty” by land and sea, a statement from the presidency said. Israel has recently escalated its threats over Lebanon’s invitation for offshore gas exploration bids along the countries’ maritime border claiming that Lebanon will be drilling in areas owned by Israel. Lebanese officials deny the Israeli statements, saying the area where the country plans to drill belongs to Lebanon. The long-standing dispute resurfaced recently as Lebanon signed a deal with an international consortium to start exploratory offshore drilling next year. Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman described the exploration tender as ” provocative” and suggested that Lebanon had put out invitations for bids from international groups for a gas field “which is by all accounts ours.” There are over 800 square kilometers (300 square miles) of waters claimed by the two countries. US officials have previously tried to mediate the dispute, including most recently by David Satterfield, the US acting assistance secretary of state who visited the border area in south Lebanon last week, and was accompanying Tillerson on Thursday.

Tillerson Says Growing Hezbollah Arsenal Threat To Lebanon
Reuters/Jerusalem Post/February 15/18/Shi’ite Hezbollah, which is deemed a terrorist organization by the United States, is part of Lebanon’s government. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Thursday that Lebanon’s security was threatened by the growing arsenal of the Iran-backed group Hezbollah and its involvement in regional conflicts. Speaking alongside Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri in a Beirut news conference, Tillerson also said the United States was engaging with Lebanon and Israel to ensure the border remained calm. Tensions between the states have spiked recently because of Israeli plans to build a wall at the border, and because of Lebanon’s decision to begin exploring for oil and gas in an offshore block in disputed waters. Shi’ite Hezbollah, which is deemed a terrorist organization by the United States, is part of Hariri’s government. Its military strength has grown since the last major conflict with Israel in 2006. Tillerson urged Lebanese leaders to uphold the country’s commitment to staying out of regional conflicts, a reference to Hezbollah’s role in wars around the Middle East including in neighboring Syria where Iran also holds major sway. Israel has accused Iran of seeking to set up weapons factories in Lebanon, and the Israeli military last month said the country had turned into one “large missile factory.” Lebanon is a big recipient of US military support. Tillerson said Washington remained committed to supporting the Lebanese army and internal security forces. The United States has been mediating between Lebanon and Israel over their border dispute. In apparent reference to the maritime dispute, Tillerson said: “We’ve asked no one to give up anything.” He added that constructive discussions were underway and he urged the Israelis to be constructive.

Aoun Urges Tillerson to Act over Israeli ‘Assaults’ despite Cold Welcome
Asharq Al-Awsat/February 15/18/US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson thanked on Thursday President Michel Aoun for their “productive talks” although he had been kept waiting ahead of the meeting at Baabda Palace that tackled Israel’s “assaults on Lebanese sovereignty.”Television footage showed Tillerson sitting in a room alongside an empty seat before Lebanese Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, who is Aoun’s son-in-law, walked in and shook his hand. The president’s office denied any departure from diplomatic protocol. Rafik Chlela, head of the media office, said Tillerson had arrived a few minutes earlier than expected and the meeting began on time. “Mr. President, thank you for the warm welcome and the open, frank, and productive discussion,” Tillerson, the highest-ranking US official to visit the country in four years, wrote in Baabda Palace’s visitors book after the talks. “The United States stands with the Lebanese people for a free and democratic Lebanon.”Aoun told Tillerson that Lebanon was committed to preserving calm on its southern border and urged Washington to play an “effective role” to help resolve Beirut’s land and maritime disputes with Israel. Aoun urged the US to “work on preventing Israel from continuing its assaults on Lebanese sovereignty” by land and sea, a statement from the presidency said. He said Lebanon was holding onto its internationally recognized borders, and rejected Israeli claims over parts of its Exclusive Economic Zone. Lebanon has recently been at loggerheads with Israel over a cement wall it is building on the country’s border. Lebanon has also an unresolved maritime border dispute with its neighbor over a triangular area of sea of around 860 sq km. The zone extends along the edge of three of the five offshore energy blocks that Lebanon put to tender early last year. After his first stop at Baabda Palace, Tillerson held talks with Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh. From there he headed to the Grand Serail where he met with Prime Minister Saad Hariri. On Wednesday, speaking in Amman, Tillerson softened Washington’s tone, saying “Hezbollah is part of the “political process” in Lebanon.”We support a free, democratic Lebanon free of influence of others, and we know that Lebanese Hezbollah is influenced by Iran. This is influence that we think is unhelpful in Lebanon’s long-term future,” he said.

Aoun Briefs Cabinet on Tillerson, Satterfield Talks, Says Lebanon to be ‘Gas Producing Country’
Naharnet/February 15/18/President Michel Aoun on Thursday briefed the Cabinet on his separate talks with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield, while noting that Lebanon will become a “gas producing country.”“We have informed the U.S. side of Lebanon’s stance over the issue of the (Israeli) cement wall and territorial waters, and we focused on continuing discussions and consultations to reach solutions for these issues,” Aoun said, noting that Tillerson was appreciative of the Lebanese stance during his talks earlier in the day with the president. “Several proposals will be discussed,” Aoun revealed. The president also noted that Lebanon will become “a gas producing country” and that the Lebanese should be ready to benefit from the development, especially in the transportation sector. “It costs less and its environmental impact is lighter,” Aoun noted, reminding of a draft law for switching to natural gas vehicles that he had submitted when he was the head of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc. Turning to the crisis in the education sector, the president stressed the need to hold a session dedicated to educational affairs, amid a continued boycott of Cabinet sessions by Education Minister Marwan Hamadeh. Prime Minister Saad Hariri meanwhile said he endorses Aoun’s remarks on the talks with Tillerson and Satterfield.

Aoun: We Don’t Want War with Anyone, U.S. Must Put End to Israel Violations
Associated Press/Naharnet/February 15/18/President Michel Aoun on Thursday called on Washington to press Israel to stop its “continued violations against Lebanon’s territorial, maritime and aerial sovereignty,” during talks in Baabda with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Aoun also told Tillerson that the U.S. should urge Israel to “commit to the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701.” Rejecting Israel’s claims about owning parts of Lebanon’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the Lebanese territorial waters, the president emphasized that Lebanon is “committed to calm on the southern border.””We don’t want war with anyone, whereas Israel is continuing its attacks on us and the memories of its wars are still vivid in the minds of southerners. That’s why we call on the United Nations and the international community to play an active role in this regard,” Aoun added. Thanking the U.S. for its continued support for the Lebanese Army, the president said: “The same as we liberated the land from terrorist groups, we will continue to dismantle the remaining cells through preemptive security operations.”Turning to the Syrian refugee crisis, Aoun said Lebanon “which hosted more than 1.85 million Syrian refugees on its soil since the beginning of the bloody events in Syria, can no longer bear further repercussions on its security, stability, economy and social, educational and health situations.” “The United States stands with the Lebanese people for a free and democratic Lebanon,” Tillerson, the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit the country in four years, wrote in the visitors’ book after the talks with Aoun. Tillerson arrived in the Lebanese capital earlier in the day as part of a regional tour. The visit coincides with heightened tensions between Lebanon and Israel over oil and gas reserves and Israel’s construction of a border wall that Lebanon says encroaches on its territory. The long-standing maritime dispute resurfaced recently as Lebanon invited companies to sign exploration deals. U.S. officials have previously tried to mediate the dispute.
Lebanon is also protesting Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace, often to bomb targets inside neighboring Syria.

Lebanese presidency denies U.S. Secretary of State kept waiting at palace
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Lebanese presidency denied that U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had been kept waiting ahead of a meeting with President Michel Aoun on Thursday at the presidential palace, where he sat for several minutes before his Lebanese counterpart greeted him.
Television footage showed Tillerson sitting in a room alongside an empty seat before Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil walked in and shook his hand. The Lebanese president’s office denied any departure from diplomatic protocol. Rafic Chlela, head of the media office, said Tillerson had arrived a few minutes earlier than expected and the meeting began on time. Tillerson is in Lebanon, a major recipient of U.S. military aid, as part of a regional tour. “Mr President, thank you for the warm welcome and the open, frank, and productive discussion,” Tillerson wrote in the Lebanese palace’s visitors book after the talks. “The United States stands with the Lebanese people for a free and democratic Lebanon.”Chlela said the head of protocol directly greeted Tillerson at the Baabda presidential palace. Aoun, Bassil’s father-in-law, is a political ally of the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, which is deemed a terrorist group by the United States. Tillerson is also due to meet Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri.
*Writing by Tom Perry/Ellen Francis; Editing by Gareth Jones

Jumblatt: White House should hear our message
The Daily Star/Feb. 15, 2018/BEIRUT: Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblatt Thursday said it was important that the White House heard President Michel Aoun’s message, after the U.S.’s top diplomat met with Aoun at Baabda Palace. Without expanding on what that message was, Jumblatt said after he too met with Aoun that U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had made “positive remarks” on Lebanon’s potential oil reserves during his meeting with the president. Jumblatt said that Lebanon’s borders and oil and gas exploration were in “safe hands,” adding it was important to hold on to Lebanon’s “rights.” A tweet from Aoun’s official account said Thursday afternoon that the president had told Tillerson that “America must work to prevent Israel from continuing its attacks on Lebanese land, sea and air sovereignty.” It added Aoun had told Tillerson that the U.S. should work to push Israel to “commit itself to U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701,” the resolution that ended the 2006 Israel war. Jumblatt also said that the “foggy crisis” has passed, in an apparent reference to the recent conclusion of a months-long dispute between Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berri, and that “harmony” prevailed between Lebanon’s three political leaders. Tillerson separately met Aoun, Berri and Prime Minister Saad Hariri during the first few hours of his one-day visit to Beirut Thursday. The visit comes amid resurging tensions in an old dispute between Lebanon and Israel over the demarcation of a maritime zone bordering the two countries that is thought to contain oil and gas. The Daily Star previously reported that during Tillerson’s visit, Lebanon’s political leaders are set to reject a previously rejected American proposal to resolve the maritime border dispute because it infringes on the country’s oil and land rights, ministerial sources said.
The proposal, which was presented to top Lebanese leaders by Acting U.S. Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs David Satterfield last week, was set to be floated by Tillerson in his separate meetings with Aoun, Berri and Hariri, the source told The Daily Star. However, the leaders have reportedly unified their opposition on refusing to relinquish to Israel any Lebanese territory, be it in the maritime sphere or at the 13 points on land which Aoun has said belong to Lebanon. Lebanese leaders have said that Israeli construction of a “separation wall” on the Blue Line threatens to appropriate Lebanese land.
Known as the “Hoff Line,” the U.S. proposal calls for Lebanon to acquire 550 square kilometers of the disputed 860 square kilometers that Lebanon insists is part of its maritime border, and relinquish the remaining part to Israel. If rejected, the United States will end its mediation effort in the oil dispute between the two countries, the source said.

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Beirut, Lebanon February 15, 2018. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi