Monday, 25 February 2013
Israel to drill for oil in Syria's Golan
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM - Israel has authorized drilling for oil on the
occupied Golan Heights in a move likely to draw international protest,
local media reported on Thursday.
Yediot
Aharonot daily said that a license to prospect had been issued to
U.S.-Israeli energy company Genie, headed by Effie Eitam, a Golan
settler and former hardline right-wing cabinet minister.
Business
journal Globes said that shareholders include media mogul Rupert
Murdoch while Republican former vice president Dick Cheney is an
adviser.
Israel seized the Golan from Syria in
the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed it in 1981, in a move never recognized
by the international community.
"Awarding a
drilling license on the Golan could cause an international fracas, given
the Golan's status as occupied Syrian territory under international
law," Globes said.
Yediot wrote that Israel halted oil exploration on the strategic plateau 20 years ago, during Middle East peace talks.
"Israel was afraid at that time that drilling for oil on the Golan Heights might undermine future possible agreements," it said.
The Israeli energy ministry spokeswoman could not immediately be reached for comment.
Israel has stolen substantial gas deposits from the Mediterranean coast
-RT
Posted @ 17:06
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