The resignation of top Israeli negotiator of maritime dispute with Lebanon came to light on Monday, as Prime Minister Yair Lapid defended the deal from critics.

Udi Adiri, former Energy Ministry director-general and the lead negotiator with Lebanon over the economic waters dispute in recent years, resigned last week, days before US Energy Envoy Amos Hochstein made his final proposal for an impending agreement, The Marker first reported as cited by The Jerusalem Post.

Adiri reportedly opposed the agreement that was being drafted and was frustrated by how National Security Adviser Eyal Hulata conducted the talks after the responsibility for them was moved to Lapid’s office, the report said.

The official reason given – after a request and not in a statement released upon his departure – was that Adiri found a private sector job at the end of the cooling-off period after being director-general.

For his part, Lapid countered criticism of the agreement, which his office views as “close to final.”

“Israel receives 100% of its security needs, 100% of the Karish Reservoir and even some of the earnings from the Lebanese reservoir,” Lapid tweeted.

JPost added that Hochstein’s proposal is set to be brought to the Israeli Security Cabinet for approval on Thursday.

Source: Israeli media