Germany to visit "Israel" to decrease dependency on Russian gas

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Israeli PM Naftali Bennett met with German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck Monday to discuss the possible ways through which the two can strengthen bilateral relations amid a global energy crisis resulting from Western-led sanctions on Russia. 

“It was a very good meeting,” Bennett later said. “We discussed ways of strengthening the Israel-Germany relations, with an emphasis on collaborations in the fields of energy, climate, and economy.”

Habeck will be touring the region for four days, including visits to "Israel," the West Bank and Jordan. 

In Jordan, Habeck will be co-chairing a conference that will deal with climate and energy. European, Arab and African countries' representatives will be joining the conference. 

German reports suggest that one of Habeck's main motives to visiting "Israel" - which is not explicitly mentioned in the agenda - is to secure alternative energy supplies for Europe as West-led sanctions continue to isolate Russia's energy exports, in a bid to eliminate Europe's dependency on it and crushing its economic lifeline. Germany will have a very cold, expensive winters if it does not solve its energy issues, which it brought single-handedly onto itself. 

For context, there have been discussions in the past to connect Israeli gas pipelines - most prominently from the Leviathan gas field - to European countries, such as Cyprus and Greece, and most recently with Turkey. 

The Leviathan gas field off the northern coast of occupied Palestine currently produces 12 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year - most of the supplies are used for "Israel's" domestic needs. Europe's yearly demand for Russian gas is 155 billion cubic meters. The Leviathan gas field would have to double its production to produce some sort of effect on Europe's dependency on Russian gas.

Before meeting Bennett, Habeck met with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, discussing “regional projects between Israel and its partners in the Middle East,” as mentioned by Lapid on Twitter.

"The governments of Israel and Germany have a shared responsibility for developing and promoting the special relations between the countries. The visit of Germany’s Vice Chancellor Habeck represents the continuity of our ties and their growth into new plains. I enjoyed talking with the vice-chancellor about regional opportunities, especially in energy,” Lapid added.

Germany has not been feeling secure in banning Russian energy, as it would send Germany into a "sharp recession," according to German economic institutes' forecasts.

Resource theft in Karish gas field

"Israel" looks to expand its resources, not only at the expense of Palestinians and Palestinian territory but also at the expense of Lebanese sovereignty. 

On Sunday, a new Israeli platform in the Karish field, a contested maritime zone, has been placed to steal Lebanon’s gas at a distance of 80km away from Haifa, by the British-Greek exploration company Energean.

Furthermore, media sources reported that agreements signed between "Israel" and Energean stipulate that the security measures of the platform fall within the company's responsibilities, while the maritime security of the Karish field falls on the shoulders of the IOF.

Additionally, the Israeli occupation navy is securing the area by means of naval vessels situated both above and below the surface of the sea, including submarines. The IOF also pointed out that they are "working to transfer the Iron Dome system in its naval version to the region."

Lebanon condemned the installation of the new platform for the Energean in the heart of the disputed area, Karish field, between Lebanon and occupied Palestine.

Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri revealed Tuesday that the US mediator for indirect talks on border demarcation between Lebanon and the Israeli occupation, Amos Hochstein, will be in Beirut next Sunday or Monday.