Amos Hochstein, the American mediator, said today’s session was essential since “we were able to meet with the three presidents, and there is another party in this case, so we were not all in the same room,” emphasizing that “we have to speak with the other party as well.”

Hochstein told LBCI that “the mood over the last few weeks and on both sides signals a readiness to take negotiations seriously in order to address the issues directly, and I think that we will be able to minimize the gaps.”

“I think we closed the gaps before we got here, and we made some progress today. I hope we can keep doing that,” the US mediator added. In response to Berri’s charge that the US was meddling with Block No. 9 operations, he stated, “I am certain that Total and its leadership can make judgments about where to drill without the United States or anybody directing them what to do.” It is a privately held firm.

As for Hezbollah’s multiple threats recently, Hochstein said, “I think the United States has been very clear that the only way to find a solution to this long-standing conflict is through the negotiating table and through diplomacy.” In this context, he pointed out that “the Karish field has already witnessed in the past years a tremendous activity without giving importance or impeding work in it.