Israel condemns Libya’s ratification of maritime agreement with Turkey as Ankara defends its legality

Israel on Wednesday condemned the Libyan House of Representatives’ ratification of a maritime boundary agreement with Turkey, accusing Ankara of destabilising the Eastern Mediterranean, while Turkish officials defended the memorandum as legitimate under international law. The agreement, signed between Turkey and Libya, establishes a framework for demarcating maritime boundaries in an area of the Eastern Mediterranean believed to contain significant natural gas reserves. The ratification was approved by Libya’s eastern-based House of Representatives, operating in a region controlled by forces loyal to Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. Haftar’s administration has strengthened relations with Ankara in recent years, despite its longstanding rivalry with Libya’s internationally recognised government in Tripoli. Israel’s Foreign Ministry strongly criticized the decision, stating that it “strongly condemns the […]