THE IMPACT OF NATURAL GAS ON ISRAEL'S ENERGY SECURITY STRATEGY

Abstract

This thesis examines trends in Israel's energy security policies in response to its discovery of large offshore natural gas resources in 2009–2010. It evaluates Israel's use of energy diplomacy, selection of energy suppliers, and prioritization of energy infrastructure projects, and the potential impacts of greater energy abundance on these strategies. By comparing Israel's energy policies before and after 2013, the thesis finds that energy abundance led Israel to employ a more protectionist approach to its energy sourcing decisions and participation in the global energy market. Israel has used its natural gas resources as a mechanism to increase its self-reliance, reduce its imports, and twilight its legacy oil transit and refinery industry. Energy abundance also led Israel to pursue a more collaborative approach to its energy foreign relations, negotiations, and conflicts. Prior to 2013, Israel employed a more combative and integrationist approach, forcefully asserting its energy requirements and leveraging its oil industry to negotiate with great powers and fuel suppliers and promote its access to the global energy system. Since 2013, energy abundance has given Israel greater confidence in its status as a regional energy power and more incentive to work cooperatively with other aspiring regional energy suppliers such as Egypt and Cyprus as the most effective way to build a local gas market and promote the export of its offshore natural gas.