Historic Natural Gas Find Off Haifa Coast [modified]

Lost User

Christian Graus wrote:

Which probably equates to what, 10 or 15 years ?

Don't worry there's plenty more off the coast of Gaza. :)

Bob Emmett

kmg365

Closer to Lebanon, in either case it will be interesting how contracts are awarded and what conflicts develop

Lost User

No, the Gaza Marine gas field, an area about 36 kilometers off the Gaza coast. British Gas and partners obtained rights from the Palestinian Authority (PA) to survey for gas. The PA would get 10% royalties on sales. (Sales potentially $4 billion.) Israel has been negotiating for over 6 years to get the gas pumped directly to them. The idea is that the gas will be sold by Israel, and the 10% royalties will be paid to the PA if they agree to Israel dictating how it is spent. Israel appears to feel that by magnanimously giving the PA what is legally already the PA's, Palestinians will be overcome with gratitude and their goodwill will flow towards Israel. [edited for spelling]

Bob Emmett

modified on Friday, March 27, 2009 12:06 PM

fred_ · modified on Friday, March 27, 2009 12:06 PM

Bob Emmett wrote:

Israel appears to feel that by magnanimously giving the PA what is legally already the PA's, Palestinians will be overcome with gratitude and their goodwill will flow towards Israel.

Kinda like Obama only taxing the rich?

Oakman · modified on Friday, March 27, 2009 12:06 PM

Bob Emmett wrote:

Israel has been negotiating for over 6 years to get the gas pumped directly to them.

Six years ago, the Gaza strip belonged to Israel. It appears the PA sold what wasn't theirs.

Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface

fred_

excellent point I didn't think of.

Lost User

Oakman wrote:

It appears the PA sold what wasn't theirs.

The deal was agreed in 1999. The PA had been in 'control' since the Oslo accord, 1994.

Bob Emmett

Oakman

Bob Emmett wrote:

the Oslo accord, 1994

Actually, 1993. The Oslo accord allowed them some autonomy, it did not set up a separate state. The Accords make it quite clear that the instrument was an interim agreement that was to expire in 1998. It never granted the PA sovereignity or the right to control offshore exploitation. I say again: Israel owned the Gaza Strip six years ago. On this as on so much else, the Palestinians lied through their teeth to gain an advantage that wasn't rightfully theirs.

Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface

Lost User

From the Middle East Times[^] ... Whether by great good luck, or by design, the 1994 "Gaza-Jericho first" Agreement negotiated under the Oslo process between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), demarcated a 32-kilometer (20-mile) maritime zone for Palestinian fishing and economic activities off Gaza's Mediterranean coastline. The Gaza Marine field is located in the Mediterranean, some 25 kilometers to 30 kilometers or so, offshore Gaza. This demarcation was reconfirmed in the September 1995 Israel-Palestinian Interim Arrangements Agreement. A map delineating this zone was attached to these agreements, and signed by the late Yasser Arafat, PLO chairman, and Israel's later-assassinated prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, and it was witnessed by the foreign ministers of the United States, the Russian Federation, and Egypt. ... In 1999, BG obtained licenses to Israeli offshore concessions, and shortly thereafter, BG was awarded the Gaza license, for a period of 25 years. This agreement was subsequently endorsed and signed by Arafat November 8, 1999, during a visit to London. An Israeli challenge to Palestinian ownership and control of the Gaza maritime gas field was rebuffed in 2000 by a ruling of Israel's High Court, which determined that the Oslo agreements had settled the matter. However, a senior official in Israel's ministry of national infrastructure told the Middle East Times recently that the Gaza gas deposits were "given to the Palestinians in 1999 by [then Israeli prime minister Ehud] Barak." When questioned, he insisted on this wording. Asked if there were any strings attached, the Israeli official said that, in exchange, the PA "agreed to allow Israel to have full security control of the sea off Gaza." An official of BG Group in London, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Middle East Times that she "didn't disagree with this account," adding that "the area is under Israeli security control." ... This show will run and run. :sigh: [edit] added link

Bob Emmett

modified on Friday, March 27, 2009 5:57 PM

Oakman · modified on Friday, March 27, 2009 5:57 PM

Bob, the middle east times is a Hammas Front - or ought to be. It constantly refers to ultra nationalist jews; patriotic palestinians; Israeli warcrimes, arab victims, etc. etc. etc. If you have corroborating cites from a reputable source, I'd be more'n willing to humbly beg your pardon, but not if all you've got a Palestinian Shopper as your source.

Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface

Lost User

Another source http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/3643848/Gaza-doesnt-need-aid-it-has-a-2bn-gas-field.html[^]

Oakman

Good enough for me. Looks like the Israeli's gave it away and then decided they wanted it back - or at least to leave it at the bottom of the ocean for later.

Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface

Lost User

Oakman wrote:

If you have corroborating cites from a reputable source

How about: Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs[^] and: Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs[^] The Israel Supreme Court ruling is mentioned in many publications, but I cannot vouch for their bias. :)

Bob Emmett

Oakman

Bob, I already said I was wrong. Quit beating a dead post. ;)

Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface

Lost User

Oakman wrote:

Quit beating a dead post

I was surprised that you were prepared to accept the word of the 'Torygraph' - a Conservative Party front, always going on about free council flats for 13 year old single mothers - rather than a reliable source. :)

Bob Emmett

Oakman

Bob Emmett wrote:

I was surprised that you were prepared to accept the word of the 'Torygraph' - a Conservative Party front, always going on about free council flats for 13 year old single mothers - rather than a reliable source.

When Fox news praises Obama, or MSNBC praises Gingrich, then you know they did something right.

Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface