Kanal13ossi Abu, CEO of Israeli company NewMed Energy, sees new opportunities for strategic cooperation between Israel and the Gulf states, he stated in an interview with the Israeli publication Globes. He stated that one possible route for gas supplies from Qatar to Europe could be a corridor through Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Turkey, and Azerbaijan. “The current war, in which Iran has launched its first major attacks on the Gulf states, opens up new opportunities for Israel to develop its energy infrastructure and strengthen its relations with these countries,” Abu said. According to him, against the backdrop of the war, interest in natural gas in the Mediterranean Sea has sharply increased. “I am confident that the Gulf countries will invest in gas projects in Israel.
Just as the UAE investment company Mubadala previously invested in the Tamar field, so in the future, companies from Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region may invest in Israel’s gas and energy infrastructure,” he noted. Abu stressed that the war in the Middle East “has launched a race for reliable energy sources.” “In the near term, the US will export more liquefied natural gas to Asia rather than Europe. However, in the medium and long term, a significant portion of investment will be directed to regions with reliable natural gas reserves, including Israel and other countries in the region,” he said. The head of NewMed Energy also stated that one of the possible routes for gas supplies from Qatar to Europe could be a corridor through Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Turkey and Azerbaijan. “The best way to transport Qatari gas to Europe is to connect the continent with Azerbaijan via Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Turkey, and from there to any destination of their choosing. This could become Qatar’s international route,” he notes. In his opinion, there are two possible main routes for transporting energy resources from the Persian Gulf countries: the northern one – through Azerbaijan and Turkey, and the southern one – through Egypt and Israel. He also allowed for the possibility of gas supplies to Syria through a swap scheme, noting that in such a case Azerbaijani gas could be used.
NewMed Energy is a key player in Israel’s gas sector and a major participant in projects in the Eastern Mediterranean, including the Leviathan field, as well as participating in the development of assets outside the country. European natural gas prices have surged sharply amid rising geopolitical tensions, particularly following statements by US President Donald Trump regarding a potential blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. According to Bloomberg, prices accelerated after Washington signaled plans for a full-scale blockade of the key maritime chokepoint.
