Lure of Israel's gas may dampen Turkish ire

[King_David]

TEL AVIV, Israel, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Israel is on the cusp of becoming a natural gas exporter and key energy power in the Middle East, a move that could produce significant geopolitical changes in a region beset by turmoil.
That includes a new alliance with Turkey, which seems to be moving toward setting aside its political differences with the Jewish state, just as it is doing with Iraq's oil-rich Kurds, in the interest of achieving its ambition to become the main energy broker in the region.

Israel is now considering its options for exporting gas from its Tamar field, which began production March 30, and the larger but still undeveloped Leviathan field, which is due to come onstream in 2015.

Between them these fields contain an estimated 30 trillion cubic feet of gas. Israel has set aside 40 percent of its gas production for export, expected to earn $50 billion in the next 20 years.



Read more: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2013/11/14/Lure-of-Israels-gas-may-dampen-Turkish-ire/UPI-81971384460006/#ixzz2ksoVVDuY

[Scootaloo]

1. Now, maybe it's just me...

But naming an undersea gas field after a world-devastating sea monster just sounds like tempting fate. Might as well name it Ry'leh or something.

[MADem]

2. In the not too distant past, Turkey and Israel were snug as two bugs in a rug.

Closer, even, than they publicly appeared. They had avenues of cooperation that were wide and long, and they engaged in a lot of information sharing.

This could be the first step towards renewing their relationship.

One hand washes the other, and both wash the face! Or, to put it another way, Money Talks. Bullshit Walks!

[Scootaloo]

3. Think Israel will return to its previous position of denying the Armenian genocide, if so? n/t

[MADem]

4. Well, the TURKS deny the Armenian genocide, to the point where the government puts out

full color books saying "That shit never happened!" We're talking expensive bindings, lots of pictures, very heavy tome--I have one of them that was gifted to me by a Turkish official some years ago--horrific thing. I also have a novel by Saddam Hussein, too, so understand that my books don't always reflect my personal interests!

There's even a WIKI on the topic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Genocide_denial


I honestly didn't know that Israel denied the Armenian genocide--seems like an extremely odd position for them to take, but I haven't really read up on their justifications for that stance. Perhaps it's a consequence of their former, rather close relations...?

Pragmatism does happen.

[delrem]

5. Good thing none of that gas belongs to Palestine. To those beggars.

[King_David]

6. Which 'beggars' ?

What are you referencing?

I do not understand your post.

Was it a funny? Sarcasm? What are you talking about here?

Thanks in advance....

[delrem]

11. Dave, since you don't understand *anything*, why do you point out each instance?

[Igel]

7. Indeed.

A looking at a map would tell you it doesn't. The Tamar field is off the coast of Israel, between Tel Aviv and Haifa. So unless that's territory that's to be considered Palestinian, that's not a problem.

Lebanon's disputed the border, now that something is involved other than just irking Israel.

Turkey was pitching a fit because it wants all of Cyprus' resources to be available to the northern part of Cypress that is effectively a Turkish colony (making Turkey's attitude to the West Bank amusing, if not ridiculous). They also dispute that the recognized government of Cyprus has authority to make such decisions without Ankara's input.

It's likely that there's some natural gas in Egypt's and the Gaza Strip's development zone, but the Gaza Strip is a particularly nasty problem. It's on a bend. Divvying up the Eastern Mediterranean's likely to be problematic. If you try to go straight out from any point on the bend you'll be marking a wedge. Egypt's not likely to budge. So the Gaza Strip's zone is likely to be bounded on two sides by Israel and Egypt, with no third boundary. Still, there'll be natural gas there.

I've seen claims that the Mari fields are properly Gazan, but that's sketchy. Again, it depends on how you draw the borders. If both sides give in a compromise, then the Mari fields are Israeli. If you think that the Gaza EDZ must be as wide as Gaza is and extend out for that width until it hits Cyprus, then a bit of the Mari field is Gazan. That's sort of an absolutist view, but such views are common in I/P discussions.

A more serious qualm is that gas extraction may draw off from deposits that extend under national boundaries. Like that's not a problem with oil fields and aquifers as well. It doesn't help that Israel has the capacity for natural resource exploitation that even Lebanon lacks--with Gaza often choosing to work on building tunnels instead of housing and sewage treatment plants. That's a common enough problem, as well--trashing the present in hopes of achieving the best possible future. Just look at Syria.

[delrem]

10. "A looking at a map" hardly tells the whole story.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/war-and-natural-gas-the-israeli-invasion-and-gaza-s-offshore-gas-fields

[shaayecanaan]

8. This is complete bullshit...

Total output from Israel's fields is 7 bcm per year. Turkey's consumption is 45 bcm per year.

Even if Israel gave every jot of its gas to Turkey it is still not going to make a dramatic difference to Turkey's dependence on Russian gas.

[King_David]

9. You should eMail all these experts and tell them how wrong they are.

keep us informed on what transpires .

[shaayecanaan]

12. What experts? Oh, you mean journalists?

I'd be here a long time if I had to tell them everything they got wrong.

Maybe I could start my own news channel. You can be my weatherman. I will engage you in witty banter and make gentle mockery of your pocket protectors, elastic suspenders and bow tie.

[oberliner]

13. Taner Yildiz

Zorlu, too. I'm sure you can find contact information online. They'd be glad to get your corrections!

[King_David]

14. Good plan

Now we talk contract .