‘Strategic Asset’: Israeli Natural Gas Exports to Arab Neighbors Jumped Over 13 Percent in 2024

Latest Developments

• Gas Exports Rise Despite War: Israel’s natural gas exports to Egypt and Jordan rose by 13.4 percent in 2024, according to March 5 statements from the country’s Energy Ministry. Despite fighting a war on multiple fronts following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, atrocities, Israel has grown its gas sector significantly, exporting energy to its Arab neighbors as well as offering European nations an alternative supply line to assist with weaning them from their dependence on Russian gas exports.
• Energy Minister Says Gas Industry Promotes Stability: Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said on March 5 that the rise in exports “demonstrates that Israel’s natural gas industry is a strategic asset, contributing to regional stability.” Cohen added that the government’s policy is to “maximize the utilization of Israel’s natural gas reserves,” estimating that the total state revenues from natural gas will reach $2.7 billion within a matter of years.
• Eastern Mediterranean Remains Lucrative: Israel’s natural gas reserves expanded 40 percent throughout the past decade, with the Levant Basin in the eastern Mediterranean Sea continuing to provide gas-rich areas for drilling. Israel’s Tamar and Leviathan gas fields produced a combined 21.42 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2024. Israel announced a $500 million expansion project for the Leviathan field in June 2024 despite the threat issued by the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah — just days before his elimination — to attack the Leviathan production platform.

FDD Expert Response

“It’s unfortunate that such cooperation between Israel and its neighbors has not yet transformed the cold peace agreements that Israel signed with Jordan and Egypt into people-to-people relations. While the governments of Jordan and Egypt identify and pursue their national interests with Israel behind closed doors, they say the opposite to their people. Thankfully, the Abraham Accords mark a departure from this model, with Arab governments praising their strong ties with Israel publicly as well as leading their populations in genuine people-to-people interactions.” — Hussain Abdul-Hussain, Research Fellow

“Israel’s relationship with its Arab neighbors has always had two sides — one public and one private. Publicly, Arab leaders maintain hostile rhetoric toward Israel; privately, high-level cooperation continues to grow. The increase in Israel’s natural gas exports to Egypt and Jordan last year, despite public antagonism, is just one example of this complicated relationship yet highlights Israel’s strategic role in regional stability and prosperity.” —Mariam Wahba, Research Analyst

“Jordan, a resource-poor country, heavily depends on other nations for essentials like energy and water. Despite the ongoing conflict and anti-Israeli rhetoric emerging from Amman, Israel has remained a reliable supplier of these resources. This positive development should be seen as a sign of potential for further growth in the relationship between the two countries.” — Ahmad Sharawi, Research Analyst

FDD Background and Analysis

“After 45 Years: The Impact of the Gaza War on the Israel–Egypt Peace Accord,” by Haisam Hassanein and Dr. Ofir Winter

“Hezbollah Drones Shot Down by IDF Near Disputed Gas Field,” by Joe Truzman

“Chevron Increases Its Presence in the Eastern Mediterranean,” by Dr. Brenda Shaffer