Deputy speaker Elias Bou Saab indicates that Hochstein will deliver final proposal on potential maritime boundary agreement to Lebanon in the next day or so.

"I don't want to be overly optimistic, but many obstacles have been removed."

During a meeting with Lebanese officials, Qatar expressed its readiness to invite "Lebanese talents" for work, hoping the Lebanese Ministry of Interior issues "good conduct" certificates for those willing to visit.

Friends of Rayan Suleiman, 7 y/o, take their final look at him before his funeral in Bethlehem.

Israeli foreign ministry: Israel does not recognize the Russian annexation of four regions in Ukraine.

Israel supports Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The National News Agency reported an explosion in the fuel tanks in the town of Mazboud.

⋯ Photo of the ongoing fire.

The Jews of Russia and Israel

Israeli radio Reshet Bet reported on 24 September that Israeli officials are concerned about the new mobilization decree in Russia, alleging that it threatens the existence of the Jewish community in the country.

Source: thecradle.co/Article/news…

⋯ According to the reports, tens of thousands of Russian Jews are dual nationals with Israeli passports and will be part of the Russian government’s request to be mobilized in the war in Ukraine.

⋯ According to the mobilization law, serving in foreign armies is not enough to be exempted from the decree, forcing those who have previously served in the Israeli army, to serve again in the Russian Armed Forces as part of their mandatory conscription.

“Jews in Russia feel the same way that any Russian feels except for one exception,” Rabbi Gorin said, adding that “Jews have the opportunity to leave because they have an Israeli passport or visa.”

⋯ The Jewish community in Russia blames this situation on the Israeli government and the Jewish Agency for failing to take a decision to save them from the war.

However, the Russian government’s crackdown on the Jewish Agency has hindered its ability to process all requests.

On Sunday, 2 October, the Israeli government is set to study a $25 million plan submitted by Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman and Aliyah Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata, allocated to receiving any Russians who are entitled to immigrate to Israel.

🚨American ambassador Dorothy Shea delivered to President Michel Aoun the final written draft for the maritime border negotiations with Israel.

⋯ President Aoun contacted Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Mikati to consult with them and on how to proceed to give a Lebanese response as soon as possible.

⋯ The American proposal regarding the demarcation of the maritime borders contains 10 pages.

Lebanon will give a response on Monday.

⋯ Lebanese Prime Minister's office:

"The American proposal needs a technical review before a political response."

⋯ US Ambassador Dorothy Shea after leaving Ain al-Tineh where she met Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri:

"Things look very positive."

Lebanese army Intelligence Directorate arrested former MP Othman Alam Al-Din for shooting during a celebration of a social event.

Hurdles may derail maritime border progress (The Cradle)

Israeli PM Yair Lapid will present the US-brokered maritime agreement with Lebanon for cabinet approval on 6 ⁠October. Lapid intends to ratify the deal at the Israeli security council and consult about the threat posed by Hezbollah if the deal fails.

US Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea met the Lebanese authorities on 1 ⁠October and handed them the final draft. An identical draft was handed to the Israeli authorities.

However, despite the confidence of both Beirut and Tel Aviv that a deal is highly likely before the elections in November, legal hurdles in Israel and fear of economic normalization in Lebanon may derail the entire process.

⋯ Online newspaper Israel Today reports that Lapid intends to approve the agreement through a special article in the government regulations that gives him the right to hide its details from the public.

Lapid fears that if the agreement goes public, Netanyahu will leverage it in the upcoming election; “Yair Lapid shamefully surrendered to [Hezbollah leader] Nasrallah’s threats”, Netanyahu stated on 2 ⁠October in a video on Twitter, adding that Lapid “is giving Hezbollah sovereign territory of the State of Israel with a huge gas reservoir that belongs to you, the citizens of Israel”.

If the current government certifies the agreement, it will be considered an unorthodox process that is unprecedented in Israeli policy and practices, especially when it comes to territorial concessions.