- Israel stands to benefit greatly from the US led war
on Iraq, primarily by getting rid of an implacable foe in President Saddam
Hussein and the threat from the weapons of mass destruction he was alleged
to possess. But it seems the Israelis have other things in mind.
-
- An intriguing pointer to one potentially significant
benefit was a report by Haaretz on 31 March that minister for national
infrastructures Joseph Paritzky was considering the possibility of reopening
the long-defunct oil pipeline from Mosul to the Mediterranean port of Haifa.
With Israel lacking energy resources of its own and depending on highly
expensive oil from Russia, reopening the pipeline would transform its economy.
-
- To resume supplies from Mosul to Haifa would require
the approval of whatever Iraqi government emerges and presumably the Jordanian
government, through whose territory it would be likely to run. Paritzky's
ministry was reported to have said on 9 April that it would hold discussions
with Jordanian authorities on resuming oil supplies from Mosul, with one
source saying the Jordanians were "optimistic". Jordan, aware
of the deep political sensitivities involved, immediately denied there
were any such talks.
-
- Paritzky said he was certain the USA would respond favourably
to the idea of resurrecting the pipeline. Indeed, according to Western
diplomatic sources in the region, the USA has discussed this with Iraqi
opposition groups.
-
- It is understood from diplomatic sources that the Bush
administration has said it will not support lifting UN sanctions on Iraq
unless Saddam's successors agree to supply Israel with oil.
-
- All of this lends weight to the theory that Bush's war
is part of a masterplan to reshape the Middle East to serve Israel's interests.
Haaretz quoted Paritzky as saying that the pipeline project is economically
justifiable because it would dramatically reduce Israel's energy bill.
-
- US efforts to get Iraqi oil to Israel are not surprising.
Under a 1975 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the US guaranteed all Israel's
oil needs in the event of a crisis. The MoU, which has been quietly renewed
every five years, also committed the USA to construct and stock a supplementary
strategic reserve for Israel, equivalent to some US$3bn in 2002. Special
legislation was enacted to exempt Israel from restrictions on oil exports
from the USA.
-
- Moreover, the USA agreed to divert oil from its home
market, even if that entailed domestic shortages, and guaranteed delivery
of the promised oil in its own tankers if commercial shippers were unwilling
or not available to carry the crude to Israel. All of this adds up to a
potentially massive financial commitment.
-
- The USA has another reason for supporting Paritzky's
project: a land route for Iraqi oil direct to the Mediterranean would lessen
US dependence on Gulf oil supplies. Direct access to the world's second-largest
oil reserves (with the possibility of expansion through so-far untapped
deposits) is an important strategic objective.
-
- 477 of 983 words
-
- [End of non-subscriber extract.]
-
- The full version of this article is accessible through
our subscription services.
- Please refer to the box below for details.
-
- http://www.janes.com/regional_news/africa_middle_east/news/fr/fr030416_1_n.shtml
|
