UN: Lebanon, Israel can avoid conflict over marine borders

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams said the leaders of Lebanon and Israel believed they could avoid confrontation over the disputed marine borders despite exchange of sovereignty claims on the possible submerged gas-rich areas. Williams, in a statement on Tuesday, said he received signs from offices of prime ministers in Lebanon and Israel indicating that they sought to avoid confrontation. "Neither of them seek a conflict on this issue (disputed marine borders), on the contrary they believe they can avoid the conflict," he said. Williams said his talks in Israel have shown that there was no magic stick to solve the marine borders dispute. He said Israel might support a foreign mediation to address the issue but did not specifically ask for the UN help. Tension between Lebanon and Israel has been swelling because of dispute on marine borders. Each of Beirut and Tel Aviv seeks to prove sovereignty over the gas-rich area. Tension started last month after the Israeli government approved its marine borders with Lebanon and presented it to the UN.