Jan, 28, 2013Israel…Independently Wealthy!Beginning about 1930, and going on into the ‘60s, my grandfather worked in the oil business. He managed wells all through the Southwest. He often told my dad that the country that was energy independent had no enemies. He meant that they had both independence from foreign oil and could therefore defend itself, and that the nation could also sell oil to others. He had a point.But he never met Israel.News came last week that work has commenced on the gigantic natural gas field off Israel’s Mediterranean coast. Discovered a couple years ago, estimates are that it could be worth one trillion dollars, and could provide energy for Israel up to a hundred years.The discovery predictably upset Israel’s neighbors, who will no doubt covet the energy prize. One can only imagine what a country, say to the far north, thinks about it all.Leviathan, the aptly named project, is an economic zone comprising a huge gas and oil field. By next year, the field will go online for local consumption and reserve storage. A 30-inch “trunk” line is being put down in the Haifa region now, with pipes being welded and set up. It is estimated that foreign sales could commence in 2015 (although to which nations it hasn’t been determined. One can hardly envision Israel’s Arab neighbors being able to bring themselves to buy from the Jewish state).By April of this year, the TAMAR gas field will come online, with high-pressure, 16-inch pipes. The infrastructure has been tested.Significantly, these developments will allow Israeli electric power stations to operate on natural gas. Industrial sites will follow soon. Consumers will be next in line.Israel, already a giant in the technology industry, will add this vast energy wealth to its coffers. Normally, this would be a time of rejoicing all around, but for those of us who follow Bible prophecy, it’s obvious these developments can prove problematic.I was reminded of this in recent days, as I read the latest blockbuster book from my friend, Bill Salus. Titled Psalm 83: The Missing Prophecy Revealed, the book is rich with information on last days’ conflict between Israel and her Arab neighbors. I consider Bill to be the best researcher around, and he doesn’t disappoint in this latest effort. The gas field Israel is now in possession of relates directly to what I consider to be the Psalm 83 prophecy.Further to Israel’s potential trouble is a USA Today report this past week, on the heels of Israel’s election. Benjamin Netanyahu drew enough support for a new four-year term, but it came with a surprise showing by a new centrist party, which will make it harder for Netanyahu to govern.Ominously, an Israeli journalist (admittedly, this comes from left-leaning Akiva Eldar) sees the settlement issue front-and-center now:“From the day Obama gets sick of us, all he has to do is to instruct the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. to absent himself from the vote.” Eldar thinks Obama will use his influence with European governments to turn the screws on Israel, “to teach Netanyahu who is stronger.”This is all ominous, of course. Obama’s punk play in diplomacy is disturbing, to say the least (another disturbing trend is for evangelicals to begin to criticize those who bring Obama’s true nature to light). It all adds up to a very interesting 2013!
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