Israeli PM Netanyahu has proposed an oil-gas pipeline from Arabia to Israel. This may reduce the importance of the Strait of Hormuz and provide Europe with an alternative energy route. This plan can completely change the energy politics of the Middle East.
Israel-Iran War: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made a big proposal on Thursday. He said that a pipeline should be built to transport Middle East oil and gas directly to Israeli ports via the Arabian Peninsula. The objective of this plan is to eliminate the threat from Iran on the Strait of Hormuz and other sea routes of the Gulf. If this plan is implemented, the global importance of Hormuz may be significantly reduced.
Complete model revealed in press conference
Benjamin Netanyahu presented this model during a press conference. Recently Israel attacked Iran’s gas fields, after which Iran also targeted the gas infrastructure of Qatar and Israel. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has asked Israel not to further attack Iran’s oil and gas infrastructure.
Talk of finding an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz
At the press conference, Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Tehran has now lost the ability to enrich uranium. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency has raised questions on this claim and does not consider it completely correct. Netanyahu said that now the time has come to find alternatives to important sea routes like the Strait of Hormuz. He indicated that if these routes remain closed for a long time, it could give Israel a strategic advantage.
How will the pipeline plan work?
According to Netanyahu’s proposal, oil and gas pipelines would be brought from the Arabian Peninsula directly to Israel. These pipelines will pass through the ground route. Ultimately these will connect to Israel’s Mediterranean ports. He said that this would eliminate the need for maritime ‘choke points’ and this could prove to be a major change after the war.
Which countries will be included?
This plan can start from the big oil fields of Saudi Arabia and UAE. Possible routes would be starting from Saudi Arabia/UAE, passing through Jordan or Saudi desert, entering Israel and then reaching Haifa or Ashdod port. After this this network will connect to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea.
What will be the benefit to Europe?
If this plan is successful then Europe’s dependence on Russia and the Suez Canal will be reduced. The supply of oil and gas will be safer and faster.
Will Israel become an ‘energy control hub’?
If this plan is implemented, Israel can become a major center of global energy supply. However, this will also give rise to a new concern, just as Iran is currently accused of affecting the supply, similarly in the future Israel will also have the power to stop the pipeline.