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Israel's Natural-Gas Find Is Biggest in 10 Years

Deepwater discovery could have huge implications for region

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 30, 2010 6:01 PM CST

(Newser) – Discovery of a massive field of natural gas off the coast of Israel could transform the Jewish state's economy and even alter the balance of power in the Middle East, the Wall Street Journal reports. Houston-based Noble Energy confirmed yesterday that the so-called Leviathan field has 16 trillion cubic feet of gas, making it the biggest deepwater discovery in a decade.

That has the potential to allow Israel to stop being dependent on other nations for energy and become a "net-energy exporter," writes the Journal. With the nation already an economic power thanks to a powerful technology industry, the additional boost of natural resources could give Jerusalem added financial advantage over its rivals—and add fresh tension to the region. Lebanon, which now eyes its own waters with new interest, and Israel have already threatened one another over potential gas poaching.

File photo.
File photo.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 17 comments
SurDavid
Jan 1, 2011 10:57 AM CST
@ Hana11...mooslim, pig-loving, heathen, violent, Jew hating little creep! Go back to the sand dunes burqua lover!
hopeandchange
Dec 31, 2010 5:38 AM CST
many people that don't follow these types of things have no idea of the huge NG fields that have been found lately. Just in the USA alone, enough NG has been found to supply current needs for the next 200 hundred years at the most conservative estimates. others place it at 500. so all the doom and gloomers have been found to be wrong again. poor things.
SilenceDogood
Dec 31, 2010 4:56 AM CST
Good for Israel, their years of toil for independence are blessed.

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