Times of Israel: Israel an energy superpower? Not quite

“Israel is becoming an energy superpower,” at least according to its Minister of Energy and Water Resources Silvan Shalom. Apparently he couldn’t help but partake in the enthusiasm when Israel signed a non-binding letter of intent on Wednesday to provide Jordan with 1.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas over 15 years.

While such triumphant declarations make for great soundbites, they could give rise to unrealistic expectations and even security risks for the State of Israel. Here in America, we actually have the same problem.

Both our countries have discovered promising new petroleum resources, but achieving true energy security requires a more clear-eyed view of common challenges. Indeed, these windfalls are unlikely to displace OPEC’s power over global oil markets or Russia’s prominence in the European natural gas sector.

Yet it has suddenly become common parlance among U.S. officials, journalists, and policy analysts to speak of “the American energy superpower.” In 2012, President Obama declared America “the Saudi Arabia of natural gas.” But abundant natural gas will never set American automobiles free from Persian Gulf energy machinations until Washington adopts a serious national strategy for promoting fuel choice. MORE