Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid gave a preliminary nod on Sunday to a draft U.S.-brokered deal demarcating a maritime border with Lebanon, telling his cabinet the proposal would fully safeguard Israel's security and commercial interests.

Lapid also voiced openness to Lebanon producing natural gas in a disputed Mediterranean field if Israel got royalties from it.

Israeli approval of the draft would await legal consultations, Lapid said. The draft is also being studied in Lebanon.