https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-63414872

 Israel and Lebanon has agreed to set their borders in the Mediterranean Sea. Israel and neighboring countries had been in a dispute over rights to a gas field since the founding of Israel. The powerful militant and political group in Lebanon Hezbollah had menaced to attack Israel when it extracted gas before the deal. Both countries benefit economically from the gas field. The signed agreement covers 330 sq miles of sea off their coasts. Nether countries were able to utilize the area’s natural resources due to a disagreement over where the boundary is up until now. Disputed areas subsume part of Karish, a confirmed gas field, and part of Qana, a prospective gas field. Israel maintained full rights to Karish under the US-brokered deal, and Lebanon’s rights to Qana were also recognized. Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who fighting a general election next week, deemed the agreement as a diplomatic achievement. “It is not every day that an enemy state recognizes that State of Israel, in a written agreement, in front of the entire international community,” he stated. Yet, Lebanese President Michel Aoun regarded the deal as “technical work that has no political implication.” Mr. Lapid’s political rival Benjamin Netanyahu, hoping to return to power, has stated the agreement illegal. This agreement between two countries is more than crucial as it raises hopes that there could be real change in the relationship between the two countries. Some deals are signed to stave off war, yet some are signed to start one.