麻豆社

After years of often fractious debate, Israel and Lebanon are very near to reaching a deal on maritime rights affecting large gas reserves in Mediterranean waters.

Israel and Lebanon - formally still at war after more than 70 years - don't have diplomatic relations.

All the negotiations have been conducted using the United States as an intermediary. President Biden called the leaders of both countries to congratulate them on the draft agreement.

But Nada Homsi, Beirut correspondent for the National, an Abu Dhabi-based newspaper, told Newshour's James Menendez it was not yet a done deal.

(Photo shows Israeli navy boats in the Mediterranean Sea, close to the Lebanese border. Credit: Ammar Awad/Reuters)