Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid signs the deal setting a maritime border between Israel and Lebanon, at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem Oct 27, 2022. (RONEN ZVULUN / POOL / AFP)
JERUSALEM – The Israeli government approved on Thursday a maritime demarcation deal with Lebanon, setting for the first time a border between the two countries, which have been in an official state of war since 1948.
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said 17 percent of the profits from Lebanon's Qana natural gas field in the disputed area would be shared with Israel
The "historic" agreement would strengthen Israel's security and economy, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid told a government meeting, adding that 17 percent of the profits from Lebanon's Qana natural gas field in the disputed area would be shared with Israel.
Earlier Thursday, Lebanese President Michel Aoun signed a letter approving the deal.
The deal, first announced on Oct 11, lays out a demarcation line between the two countries in the disputed zone in the eastern Mediterranean, where several natural gas fields are located.
READ MORE: Israel's security cabinet endorses maritime deal with Lebanon