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PM Lapid's Remarks at the Start of the Special Cabinet Meeting to Approve the Maritime Agreement between Israel and Lebanon

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

27.10.2022

Following are Prime Minister Yair Lapid's remarks at the start of the special Cabinet meeting to approve the maritime agreement between Israel and Lebanon:

"I am pleased to open this special cabinet meeting in order to approve this historic agreement on a maritime boundary with Lebanon.

This agreement strengthens Israel's security and our freedom of action against Hezbollah and the threats to our north. There is rare consensus in the security establishment regarding the necessity of this agreement. Defense Minister Benny Gantz, the IDF, the Mossad, the ISA and the NSC: Everyone has signed off on this agreement and its contribution to Israel's security and our operational needs.
Fifteen days ago, the government placed this agreement on the table of the Knesset. The Knesset conducted a thorough review and oversight process, primarily at the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, including confidential portions which were presented to the Intelligence Subcommittee. I thank the Chairman of the Committee, Ram Ben-Barak, who led deep, comprehensive, and impartial discussions.

As is known, the process we have held was brought before the Supreme Court with various claims. The responsibility is ours, and so is the authority: in the hands of the government.

Thank you to everyone involved in this effort: Alternate Prime Minister Naftali Bennett; National Security Advisor Eyal Hulata - the true architect of this agreement; Foreign Ministry Director-General Alon Ushpiz; Energy Ministry Director-General Lior Schillat; Government Secretary Shalom Shlomo; Military Secretary Maj.-Gen. Avi Gil; Chief of Staff Dani Vesely; former Director-General of the Energy Ministry Udi Adiri; and the team at the Attorney General's Office who accompanied this entire process.