Page 56 - HaMizrachi_Tu_Bishvat_2020_USA_HP_Neat

ISRAEL INSIGHT

Daniel B. Markind

natural gas – the other event

that rocked the middle east

t the beginning of Janu- of the Mediterranean that does not Suddenly, Israel is a regional power in
ary, earth-shattering events include Turkey. Indeed, Turkey and natural gas. This gives Israel substan-
Aoccurred that completely dis- Libya entered into a bizarre agreement tial energy independence, and it pro-
rupted the Middle East, caused mas- in December that supposedly gave vides Arab countries like Egypt and
sive anger in certain Arab capitals, and those two countries exclusive rights Jordan with a more stable supplier of
threatened war in the region. In other to explore a part of the Mediterranean energy than they had previously. Of
news, the Americans assassinated Ira- Sea between their two countries. The course, Israeli energy exports stand
nian General Qassem Soleimani. Turks have gone so far as to chase traditional Middle East trading rela-
Cypriot vessels away from exploring tionships on their head. Also, it gives
The non-Soleimani news that rocked
the Middle East involved natural for natural gas in Cypriot waters. They the rejectionist front in the Arab
also sent their own ships to explore
gas. On January 2, Greece, Israel and in Cypriot waters. If Turkey tries this world a new and very public target.
Cyprus signed an agreement to build a Simultaneously, Israeli gas exports
pipeline to transport natural gas 1,300 against Greece or Israel, things might place a key choice before the ruling
miles from Israel’s Leviathan natural not go so smoothly for the Turks.
gas field in the Mediterranean Sea first Meanwhile, the first shipment of classes of Jordan and Egypt. They
to Greece, then to Italy and from Italy Israeli gas from the Leviathan field can reject the Israeli gas and main-
into the heart of Europe. Scheduled was delivered to Jordan on New Year’s tain their policy of keeping Israel at
for completion in 2025, the “EastMed Day, much to the chagrin of many arm’s length with a very cold peace,
pipeline” ultimately might provide Jordanians. Jordan has been receiving but if they do so and maintain their
4% of Europe’s natural gas imports. Israeli gas from the smaller Tamar ideological purity, they risk their own
It also would compete with two pipe- field since 2017, but the Leviathan people revolting against the resultant
lines being built by Russia, the Nord- gas increases Israeli exports to Jordan economic deprivation. That is already
Stream 2 pipeline in the Baltic Sea to dramatically. Jordan’s main political happening in Lebanon, Iraq and Iran.
Germany and the TurkStream project opposition, The Islamic Action Front, Conversely, they can take on their
from Russia to Turkey and then on called the delivery of Leviathan gas a rejectionists and lead the Middle East
into Europe. into a new era.
“black day in the history of Jordan,
Turkey reacted furiously to the and a crime against the nation…” A As much as the impact of the Solei-
EastMed project. The pipeline involves memo was filed in Jordan’s parliament mani assassination, the decisions
three countries with whom Turkey has requesting that a law be drafted to ban involving Israeli natural gas being
strained relations at best – Greece, the importing of Israeli gas, but pre- made now in Egypt and Jordan will set
a historical enemy; Cyprus, whom viously the Jordanian constitutional the tone on the future of the Middle
Turkey invaded in 1974, carved out a court ruled that the Israeli-Jordanian East.
rump state called Northern Cyprus gas agreement did not need parlia-
recognized by nobody but Turkey and mentary approval. A version of this article originally appeared
still occupies to this day; and Israel in The Times of Israel.
against whom Islamic fundamentalist Jordan wasn’t the only country to
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has receive Israeli natural gas on New
systematically destroyed what once Year’s Day. Egypt did as well. Israel
were very close relations. and its US partner Noble Energy
reached a $15 billion agreement in Daniel B. Markind is an attorney based in
The Turks have threatened that they 2019 to supply 64 billion cubic meters Philadelphia specializing in real estate,
will stop any exploration of that part of gas to Egypt. commercial, energy and aviation law

56 |