Libya-Turkey maritime deal draws Israel condemnation

Israel condemned the eastern-based Libyan parliament's ratification of a maritime jurisdiction memorandum with Turkey, joining objections from Greece, Cyprus and the European Union.

The memorandum sets out maritime boundaries in a potentially gas-rich part of the eastern Mediterranean. Greece says the deal infringes on its maritime claims, while the EU said it supported Greece and Cyprus and called the memorandum “null and void”.

Israel’s foreign ministry said it “strongly condemns” the Libyan House of Representatives’ decision to ratify the memorandum and accused Turkey of destabilising the eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey’s foreign ministry welcomed the approval on Tuesday, describing the agreement as based on international law and equity and as protecting the rights and interests of Turkey and Libya.

Eastern Libya is led by military leader Khalifa Haftar, whose administration has grown closer to Ankara and has long rivalled Libya’s internationally recognised government in Tripoli.