WASHINGTON, DC — Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and David Cicilline, Chairman of the Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism Subcommittee, issued the following statement regarding the historic agreement resolving the Israel-Lebanon maritime border dispute:

"We strongly support finalization of the Israel-Lebanon maritime agreement and applaud Senior Advisor Amos Hochstein’s work as mediator. This agreement would boost both the Israeli and Lebanese economies and foster greater long-term investment in the region, while strengthening Israel’s, Lebanon’s, and regional security.

"The agreement represents an important step in addressing Lebanon's dire energy needs, one aspect of its ongoing economic crisis, along with providing Europe another source of natural gas while contributing to regional stability. This is also a concrete example of the power diplomacy has to directly improve people’s lives. We urge prompt ratification and implementation."

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