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Israel approves drilling for oil in Golan Heights – Syrian occupied territory
(JPost) – Israel awarded the first license to drill for oil on the Golan Heights, local media reported. A New Jersey-based company was awarded the license, covering half the area of the Golan from the latitude of Katzrin in the north to Tzemach in the south.
Sources informed ”Globes” that, a few days ago, the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources’ Petroleum Council recommended awarding the license to Genie Energy Ltd., headed by former minister Efraim Eitam.
Shareholders include chairman Howard Jonas, Lord Jacob Rothschild, and Rupert Murdoch. Former US Vice President Dick Cheney is an adviser.
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The process of granting the license began following geological tests, which indicated a large potential oil discovery in the southern Golan Heights. On the basis of the findings, last summer, Minister of Energy and Water Resources Uzi Landau declared the Golan as open for oil and gas exploration and production activity.
Efraim Eitam eyes Golan oil venture
(Ynet News) Aug. 15, 2012 – Genie Energy is a subsidiary of US-based IDT Corporation, headed by businessman Howard Jonas. Jonas has contributed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s 2007 primaries campaign and to to Landau’s primaries campaign in 2005.
Genie Energy is also the parent-company of IEI, which is currently pursuing a controversial oil shales exploration project in the Valley of Elah.
Effie Eitam: IDF Commander Southern Lebanon, Politician and settler Golan Heights
Q. What has to be done with regard to the Palestinians?
“The immediate solution consists of three elements. First, get rid of this leadership. Second, to enter Area A [under full Palestinian control] and uproot the military terrorist capability. Third, to make it clear that there will be no foreign sovereignty west of the Jordan River. I am not sure that this is the time to organize what will happen east of the Jordan. But as for the area west of the Jordan, we have to state that no sovereignty will be established there other than that of the State of Israel.”
Q. What do you mean by getting rid of the Palestinian leadership? To kill Arafat? To expel the 1,000 people around him?
“To put them on trial. To arrest all those people and put them on trial. Simply that. To conduct Jerusalem trials and place those murderers on trial according to the criteria of international law.”
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Michael Steinhardt is listed as investor in Colorado shale exploration with above mentioned corporation.
Obama is too much a “gentleman” or political stategist for his 2nd term to initiate displeasure in Jerusalem. I’m sure the Secret Service has spend time on reconnaissance of a nice restaurant for the evening meal a walking distance from the Netanyahu residence. President Shimon Peres will return a favor and award Obama the Presidential Medal of Distinction. I do agree the priorities of visit lie on (1) Iran sanctions and nuclear issue and (2) the Syrian turmoil and instability with risk of proliferation of chemical weapons.
In past 12 months I have written many diaries on the relationship Netanyahu and Obama. Obama his already threatened Netanyahu in the fall of 2012 about going alone and strike Iran. The Israeli Air Force is not capable to carry the bunker buster bombs and are limited in causing damage to the Iranian nuclear facilities hidden in the mountains.
On the Palestinian issue and the Middle-East foreign policy, Obama relied too much on Hillary Clinton and her neocon advisors from the past. The new appointments of Kerry-Brennan-Hagel will be more in line to what Obama needs to achieve. The battle in US Congress is basically a last Republican stand to prevent change from the old regime of pacifying AIPAC and Israeli politicians. The discussion in Jerusalem on US foreign policy by rising-star Marco Rubio was not only sad but laughable at its shallowness.
The visit to Israel is one great PR show of the bond between the USA and Israel, the logo publication is just one indication. It will be an encouraging sign if there is little publication about the next peace initiative and the development could be measured by increased anger within the hard-core settler community.
Political Gain and the Spoils of 1967 War
My diary – Peace Will Be the Nail In Netanyahu’s Coffin
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