The Naqoura Deal at Risk: Israel Weighs Canceling Maritime Border Agreement with Lebanon, Calling it a "Document of Surrender"

In a major policy shift, Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen announced on Sunday, March 15, 2026, that the government is considering canceling the 2022 maritime border demarcation agreement with Lebanon. Speaking to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Radio, Cohen slammed the deal—brokered by the previous administration—as a "document of surrender" rather than a real treaty. He argued that Israel handed over gas-rich waters in exchange for "vague" security promises that were shattered when Hezbollah entered the ongoing conflict earlier this month.

Diplomatic Deadlock Amid Ground Incursions These remarks coincide with a firm stance from Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, who stated that Israel has no plans for direct talks with the Lebanese government in the coming days. Sa'ar emphasized that Israel expects Beirut to take "serious steps" to restrain Hezbollah. On the ground, the IDF continues large-scale airstrikes and limited ground incursions into southern Lebanon, a front that ignited following Hezbollah's retaliation for the assassination of Iranian Leader Ali Khamenei in late February.

The "Aoun" Initiative and French Mediation Woes While President Joseph Aoun works to assemble a Lebanese negotiating team with support from French President Emmanuel Macron, a breakthrough remains elusive. Reports of a secret French "comprehensive peace plan" including mutual recognition were downplayed by the French Foreign Ministry. Beirut insists on a confirmed ceasefire before talks can begin between Paris or Cyprus, but Israel's current rhetoric suggests it is more interested in dismantling the 2022 legal framework than returning to the status quo.