Brokered by the United States, Lebanon and Israel are conducting negotiations to demarcate the common maritime boundary in order to help identify each country's oil and gas resources and pave the way for further exploration

A senior Lebanese security official said that after nearly two years of negotiations, the maritime boundary demarcation talks between Lebanon and Israel that could help distribute oil and gas resources are nearing completion.

Lebanon's Director General of Public Security, Major General Abbas Ibrahim, told local television channel Al-Jadeed "We are talking about weeks, not even days, to finish the demarcation file. I tend to be positive. "

Ibrahim attended meetings last week with US mediator Amos Hawkstein, who said his hours-long visit to Beirut on September 9 showed him that the talks were making "very good progress."

According to Israeli and Lebanese officials, an Israeli proposal would allow Lebanon to develop gas reserves in a disputed area in exchange for approval of a demarcation line to the north.

A political source familiar with the talks said Lebanese officials demanded a written copy of the proposal before providing a final response.