⋯ In a broadcast to his cabinet, Lapid attempted to frame the deal as Lebanon's recognition of Israel. However, Aoun later said the deal was purely "technical" and would have "no political dimensions or impacts that contradict Lebanon's foreign policy".

⋯ Lebanon's new border (Line ⁠23) is a better result than the 2012 US-proposed Hof Line (Line ⁠H)

US diplomat Frederic Hof mediated the border dispute from 2011 to 2012, during Mikati’s 2012 government. He offered Lebanon 55% of the “disputed zone” (zone from Lines ⁠1 to 23), essentially putting the Qana and Karish gasfields in Israeli territory.

When negotiations restarted in June 2020, President Aoun supported claiming Line ⁠29 (after studies were done by the Lebanese army, endorsed by the UK Hydrographic Office), but he never ratified it, due to US pressure.

Ten years passed and Lebanon (under the same PM Mikati) has obtained a better result.

⋯ Hezbullah's Secretary-General Sayyed Nasrallah considers the negotiation “from the beginning until the end is a great victory to Lebanon's state, people, and resistance”. Lebanese officials “never did any suspicious step that might indirectly imply normalization”.

⋯ US President Joe biden congratulates Lebanon and Israel on their signing of the maritime border deal.

Hezbullah's SG Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah will deliver a speech at 8:30pm on Saturday, 29/10/22, to discuss some of the details regarding the maritime demarcation agreement.

A debriefing of the demarcation negotiations

On a talkshow last night, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Elias Bou Saab went into details concerning the maritime demarcation negotiations and the stances the Lebanese delegation took throughout.

⋯ He revealed Amos Hochstein's proposal during the 2nd stage of negotiations, and how the mediator told the Lebanese delegation that "we can't give you 100% (of Line 23), we have to give the Israeli side something as well".

His proposal (picture) was rejected outright.

⋯ Thus, the Israeli side made a new "take it or leave it" proposal on 1 September, demanding that Lebanon either sacrifice a portion of Block 8, or they take it all on the condition that Israel's security obstacle, the 'line of buoys', be recognized.

⋯ The Lebanese side informed Hochstein and the Israelis that Line 23 was non-negotiable. The LAF studied Hochstein's map of the buoy line (in red) and found that it cut into both local Lebanese waters and Block 10. The Lebanese delegation deemed this a "non-starter".

⋯ The Israelis eventually agreed to Point D10 (corner of Block 10, not pictured). Regarding Ras Al-Naqoura, they attempted to claim Point 31. Lebanon demanded Point 18 as it has been for decades. Hochstein told the Lebanese side that rejecting the buoy line was a "deal-breaker".

⋯ The negotiations regarding these 5 km continued in New York. The result was sticking to the status quo and refusing to acknowledge the buoy line.

The Lebanese delegation's persistence coupled with Hezbullah's pressure on Israel enabled them to secure the entirety of Line 23.

Hezbullah's military media released a video of its members saluting the resistance in Palestine.

The audio of His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is from his most recent speech, where he gives his own salute to the Palestinian resistance.

Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) supporters have pitched tents near the Presidential Palace in anticipation of the events commemorating President Michel Aoun's departure from office tomorrow.

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's speech has started.

For English highlights, follow this thread: twitter.com/political_aya…

Arabic Livestream: t.me/sayyed_speeches?livestream

English Livestream on PressTV

A new case of cholera was recorded in a Syrian refugee camp in the town of Al-Baisarieh in Al-Zahrani.

Celebrations currently underway near Baabda Palace. Supporters are pouring in from all over Lebanon to witness President Michel Aoun deliver his final speech as president.

A convoy is expected to accompany him as he returns to his home in Rabieh.

⋯ President Michel Aoun's speech has begun.