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.

Anti-colonialism had gained lots of momentum due to the ramification of World War II. Increased consciousness of the weaknesses of colonial powers and increased awareness of colonial injustice and inequality compelled Africans to actively fight for independence. What Africans learned throughout the World War was communication and ability to work together. One of the reasons why Africans were colonized by European countries was the lack of unity among African countries and people. This unification strengthened African nationalism. African nationalists’ voices were loud enough to be heard by the world, and this torn down European colonialism in Africa. The Second World War also imposed psychological changes which aided in the decolonization of Africa. This war changed and shaped the way Africans view Europeans. The Africans recognized that white man, just like everyone else, fears and dies. This observation shattered the idea of white supremacy which had existed in the minds of Africans. Africans thought that Europeans were insurmountable and unable to be defeated. For the first time in centuries, Africans began to develop genuine hope that freedom was not a fantasy and see that independence from European countries was feasible.