19/02/2023

This analysis examines the background, nature and content of the maritime border agreement signed between Israel and Lebanon.

The issue of determining the boundaries of the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone areas among the ten countries surrounding the Eastern Mediterranean could not be resolved due to some political and technical difficulties. Six different bilateral delimitation agreements signed for the purpose of determining the maritime borders in the region have not been accepted by all parties, and the existence of areas still waiting to be delimited continues. Existing disputes over maritime borders also cause serious tensions in activities related to the exploration and exploitation of natural resources. The full resolution of many existing border disputes and natural resource-based disputes in the region requires the regional states to come together and produce comprehensive solutions, as Turkey proposes at the presidential level.

Between Lebanon and Israel; The signing of the bilateral agreement, which solved the problems caused by the border conflict and the related natural resource exploration activities, constitutes a concrete example that shows that joint operation of resources can be a relaxing method in the resolution of border disputes and related disputes in the region. This analysis examines the background, nature and content of this maritime border agreement signed between Israel and Lebanon. In addition, in the last part of the analysis, the important reflections of the treaty on the region are also mentioned.