Benjamin Netanyahu says he's approved a major deal to export natural gas to Egypt, the largest in Israel's history. The agreement between US company Chevron and Israeli partners is said to be worth an estimated 35 billion dollars. Egypt has an energy crisis but has been a vocal critic of Israel's war on Gaza. It's yet to confirm the deal.

Jerusalem

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved a $35 billion natural gas deal with Egypt, despite Egypt's vocal criticism of Israel's recent actions in Gaza and its settlement policies. The deal is believed to be influenced by U.S. pressure, given the significant economic aid the U.S. provides to Egypt, and is part of a broader effort to integrate Israel economically into the region.

The agreement has sparked concerns about Egypt's energy sovereignty and regional credibility, especially as it comes at a time when there are growing calls for economic sanctions against Israel. Analysts suggest the deal may give Israel greater leverage over Egypt and could be seen as Egypt recognizing Israeli sovereignty over contested gas fields, including those off the coast of Gaza.

Netanyahu says he's approved $35B gas deal with Egypt

Stephen Zunes is professor of politics at the University of San Francisco and chair of Middle Eastern studies He joins us now from Christchurch in New Zealand professor. First of all, let's get to the nitty-gritty of it. What'd you make of this? It is rather surprising in certain ways a given that Egypt has been a vocal critic of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza the expansion of settlements rejection of Palestinian statehood but they are fairly desperate for Natural gas. The question is why Israeli natural gas? Why not natural gas from Qatar Algeria? But I think the answer is that the United States which has a lot of leverage on Egypt given the enormous amount of Economic aid and the like has basically pressured them into this deal obviously Trump wants Feels that Would rather see Chevron profit than state oil companies state gas companies, for example But also I think this is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to try to integrate Israel economically Into the region and therefore less than the leverage Arab states might have in support of the Palestinian cause Well, that's what it how is this then likely to be received in Egypt as well as perhaps in the wider Arab world? Ultimately here professor I Don't think it'll go over well for the very reasons that I noted but I think that at the same time the Egyptians are Are dealing with a genuine energy shortage and they are pretty desperate for you know Some some relief in this regard they may trust the government on this one at the same time I I don't doubt there'll be some some serious dissent as well, particularly internationally Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you know when you look at it through certain lenses that this could really erode Egypt's energy sovereignty Yeah, very very much so and need Israel's Egypt's credibility I mean you had Egypt is the largest country in the Arab world It's still you know, very much the you know center of you know, cultural and scholarship and and other Yeah, it does see itself as a leader in the Arab world So to see this kind of deal right now just at a time when there's a growing movement For for sanctions on Israel to try to isolate Israel Economically and in light of the horror that country has inflicted on the Palestinians in in recent years This doesn't doesn't make it doesn't make Egypt look good. Yep. There's another aspect here I mean does this give Israel leverage over Egypt or does it because of the amount of money involved? That it gives Egypt some more leverage over Israel. I Don't think that I think it's much more Israel leverage under Egypt frankly this because despite Israel is much smaller size. They are more powerful economically They have the kind of unconditional support of the United States, you know, President Trump who's close to Chevron and the oil other oil comp big oil giants the United States obviously wants to advance their Their their interest as well you know, I think you know, the the leverage that Egypt would have was if it would join the there's an international community who are pushing for a boycott, but I you know, I Understand that CC isn't something of a tight spot here But at the same time I think it does Indicate that he has been been more willing to to compromise on behalf of US and Israeli interest than many people hoped he would Now this deal has been in the works for a while And the timing is quite interesting given that we have this ceasefire now in Gaza And perhaps the optics would have seemed completely erroneous or awful They had signed such a deal during the bombing and the genocidal conflict taking place on the strip now That's one part of it. So does this actually perhaps show the behind the scenes that Israel Egypt relations have been improving It is possible, I mean the tragedy right now is that people continue to die both from bomb attacks and from Preventable diseases and hypothermia and the like and the attention of the world is somewhat Less on the the situation there. So it does give entities that want to make deals with Israel perhaps a little more cover than they might might otherwise have but what Brings Gaza into any more more relevance the fact that the Leviathan air oil gas fuel which Israel claims also includes the waters outside of Gaza that you know the Future Palestinian state would want to have access to these they'd be legally Have access to these and so in signing this deal is each of an effect Recognizing Israeli sovereignty over these oil fields and that's another question that needs to be considered Stephen Zunes, thank you so much for joining us professor of politics at the University of San Francisco chair of Middle Eastern Studies there

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