Natural gas

Israel's Energy Ministry Director General Lior Schillat and a delegation hold a press conference at the entrance to an army base in Rosh Hanikra, on the border between Israel and Lebanon, following the signing of a maritime border deal between the two countries, October 27, 2022. (David Cohen/Flash90)

Who are the real winners of the Israel-Lebanon maritime deal?

While Lebanon and Israel play up the benefits of a new maritime border, the biggest gains lie with states and companies far from the Mediterranean coast.

By Majeed Malhas November 14, 2022

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan speaks in Istanbul, September 20, 2015. (Photo by Orlok / Shutterstock.com)

Netanyahu and Erdogan need each other more than ever

It’s no coincidence that a deal to normalize relations between Turkey and Israel was announced on the same day that Netanyahu pushed a natural gas deal through the Knesset. As usual, the Palestinians are the biggest losers — oh yeah, and the Greeks. Two years ago, when a major-but-ultimately-premature breakthrough in the frozen relations between…

By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man December 18, 2015

Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Obama in the Oval Office, March 2012 (photo: The White House / Flickr)

Netanyahu and Obama find a shared interest — screwing the Israeli people

Despite the years of endless clashes of both personality and policy, this dramatic political saga really won’t surprise you one bit. The rather lousy relationship between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and U.S. President Obama has been the subject of much discussion in recent weeks as former Ambassador Michael Oren brought already ridiculous levels of behind-the-scenes…

By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man July 3, 2015

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Palestinians climb over the Israeli Wall to attend the Friday prayer in Al-Aqsa Mosque, in the town of Al-Ram, near the Qalandiya checkpoint between the West Bank city of Ramallah and Jerusalem, on the second Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, June 26, 2015. (Activestills.org)

A Month in Photos: Global Pride, Ramadan and refugees

LGBTQ people and allies celebrate pride while others protest ‘pinkwashing’; tens of thousands of Palestinians from the West Bank head into Jerusalem for prayers during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, some climbing over walls to do so; African asylum seekers bring the theater to their detention center; migrants and refugees commemorate their dead in…

By Activestills July 3, 2015

Heads of the four parties comprising the Joint List (from left to right) Ayman Odeh of Hadash, Masud Ganaim of Ra’am, Jamal Zahalka of Balad and Ahmad Tibi of Ta’al, Tel Aviv, February 11, 2015. (Photo by Activestills.org)

In natural gas debacle, the Joint List just can’t win

The slate of Palestinian parties in the Knesset, aligned with neither the coalition nor the opposition, is quickly — and at times clumsily — discovering its own power. Lessons from Israel’s natural gas debacle. By Samah Salaime There’s an old joke about a tyrannical lion who abuses a monkey in the jungle. Every time the…

By +972 Magazine July 1, 2015

Demonstrators march in Habima Square in Tel Aviv, during a protest against the privatization of natural gas found in the Mediterranean sea, May 25, 2013. (Oren Ziv/ Activestills.org)

‘The great gas robbery’: A chronicle of civil resistance

A photo chronicle of the past few years of protest against the Israeli government’s handling of newly discovered offshore natural gas reserves. Social activists, and economists, believe that Israeli citizens — and the state — are getting an unfair deal from the private companies who own the drilling rights. Photos by Activestills.org Text by Michael…

By Activestills June 30, 2015

Protesters light a torch in Istiklal Street, near Taksim Square, during an anti-government demonstration, June 17, 2013. (Photo by: Oren Ziv/ Activestills.org)

From a Palestinian return to Gezi Park protests: A week in photos – June 13-19

This week: Turkey’s protests take new forms, Israelis protest privatization of natural gas and militarization of education, Palestinians return to their land after 10 years, and animal rights activists say ‘non’ to foie gras.

By Activestills June 20, 2013

The Tamar natural gas platform (Photo: Noble Energy)

Gas exports: Is the government with us, or against us?

The High Court of Justice views petroleum and natural gas as ‘limited, non-renewable, publicly-owned resources.’ So how is it that our own government violates the basic rules of public policy? By Ofer Sitbon (translated from Hebrew by Miriam Erez) In a 2011 ruling handed down by the High Court of Justice (Bagatz 3734/11), Justice Miriam…

By Haokets June 16, 2013

Former U.S. president Bill Clinton (photo: State Department)

‘Bill Clinton tried to dismantle Israeli natural gas revenue committee’

Former Israeli finance minister reveals how the former American president tried to influence Knesset legislation and committee hearings on behalf of U.S. energy corporations. Former Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz revealed that former U.S. President Bill Clinton tried to have the Sheshinski Committee for natural gas revenues dismantled. According to Steinitz, Clinton, along with several…

By Noam Sheizaf April 16, 2013

Israeli minister: Cut power supply to Gaza this summer

Faced with a power shortage for Israelis, the environment minister offers to cut the life-saving power Israel is selling to Gaza strip. Israel’s minister of environmental protection, Gilad Erdan (Likud), has demanded that the government stop supplying power to the Gaza Strip in order to prevent power failure in Israeli cities this summer. In an…

By Noam Sheizaf May 13, 2012

Egypt terminates deal to supply Israel with natural gas

Cancellation of the commercial deal between private Egyptian and Israeli entities has more to do with Egypt’s own internal confrontation with corporate governance and transparency than with the peace treaty with Israel. According to several news reports, Egypt has terminated a deal to supply Israel with natural gas. Egyptian sources say that the deal was…

By Lisa Goldman April 22, 2012

Natural gas discovery: 2010’s most underestimated story

The New York Times reports good news for Israel: Exploratory drilling off Israel’s northern coast this week has confirmed the existence of a major natural gas field — one of the world’s largest offshore gas finds of the past decade… As I wrote in the past, this story has not garnered the attention it merits.…

By Roi Maor December 31, 2010

Haaretz front page, 5 Oct 2010

Between the Lines (5 Oct): Yom Kippur war protocol revealed

Headlines: It’s déjà-vu all over again >Top of the news: Israel under attack! All-out war! Egyptians cross the channel! No, wait a second… what? That was the 1973 Yom Kippur war, which is now back in the headlines. A declassified protocol reveals that the Israeli leadership was overwhelmed, and that the security minister at the…

By Roi Maor October 5, 2010