Hochstein meets Lapid in unannounced visit to Israel

U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein met with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid after leaving Beirut on Monday, Lapid's office said Tuesday.

Hochstein's unannounced visit to Israel followed an "important" meeting in Baabda with President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, over the maritime border demarcation with Israel.

Hochstein said after the meeting that he was optimistic. He added that progress has been made and that gaps have been narrowed.

Hochstein will also meet Israeli officials in the Energy Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and the National Security Council, Israeli media reports said.

Hochstein had arrived in Beirut Sunday to push talks to resolve a bitter maritime border dispute between Lebanon and Israel that had escalated in early June, after Israel moved a production vessel to the Karish offshore field, which is partly claimed by Lebanon.

The move prompted Beirut to call for the resumption of U.S.-mediated negotiations on the demarcation dispute.