Now that Hamas is running Gaza, Israel has belatedly come to realize that the deal it made with British Gas to buy natural gas off the Gaza Coast from the Palestinian Authority may have been a mistake - and as a result, Israel is seeking other, more stable sources, including prodding forward a plan that has been in the works for several years to build a pipeline from Central Asia to Israel, via Turkey and the Mediterranean.
Among the assets Hamas has inherited in Gaza is the large gas field off the strip's coast. According to the original deal, British Gas was to drill and ship the gas to Israel, and the Palestinian Authority would get 10% of sales.
Hamas, however, wants more. “It is unreasonable that the owner of the gas, Palestine, gets 10% only,” said Hamas terrorist spokesman Mohamed al-Madhoun.
Thus, Israel is stepping up activities to push forward gas deals with central Asian countries, particularly Georgia. In a visit to Tbilisi, Georgia's capital, last week, Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer said that he had had what he described as "excellent talks" with Georgian Minister of Energy Nika Gilauri in which they discussed what help Georgia could offer Israel in finding new gas resources.
Among the assets Hamas has inherited in Gaza is the large gas field off the strip's coast. According to the original deal, British Gas was to drill and ship the gas to Israel, and the Palestinian Authority would get 10% of sales.
Hamas, however, wants more. “It is unreasonable that the owner of the gas, Palestine, gets 10% only,” said Hamas terrorist spokesman Mohamed al-Madhoun.
Thus, Israel is stepping up activities to push forward gas deals with central Asian countries, particularly Georgia. In a visit to Tbilisi, Georgia's capital, last week, Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer said that he had had what he described as "excellent talks" with Georgian Minister of Energy Nika Gilauri in which they discussed what help Georgia could offer Israel in finding new gas resources.