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Israel: The
Economic Nexus of the 21st Century? Recently there's been a lot of
concern raise in the media about the possible closing of the Strait of Hormuz
to shipping if hostilities broke out between Iran and America. About 25% of
the world's oil supplies (75% of Japan's) flows through the straits. Below is an article that
summarizes some of these issues. OPLAN 1019 Arabian Gauntlet http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/arabian-gauntlet.htm There are few alternatives for
getting the oil out of Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf States if the Strait
of Hormuz is closed to shipping. For Saudi Arabia, the only alternative is
the East-West Pipeline that carries limited amounts of oil from the Saudi oil
fields in the east of the country to the Red Sea ports. The only other
potentially viable pipeline is the disused Trans Arabian Pipeline that could
potentially be repaired and reopened. However, this pipeline, which once carried
oil overland to the Mediterranean ports of Palestine, fell into disuse when
Israel became an independent nation and is now virtually useless without
major repairs and upgrades. A similar condition exists for
Iraq, which has pipelines that carry limited amounts of oil to the
Mediterranean via Turkey and Syria. Iraq, too, has a disused pipeline that
once carried oil overland to Palestinian ports, but it too fell into disuse
when Israel became an independent nation. As the great 21st Century
East/West, Shiia/Sunni, Persian/Arab divide continues to widen, the Sunni
Arabs of Arabia and Mesopotamia will most likely re-think their long-held
animosity toward Israel that, for more than half a decade, has denied them
access to valuable Mediterranean ports for the export of their oil. If Iran
can threaten the Strait of Hormuz, and if America becomes unwilling or unable
to counter the Iranian threat, the Arabs may find it expedient, if not
palatable, to make nice with Israel. Another development that has
been in the works for several years is a potential partnership between Israel
and Russia in the oil trans-shipment dance.
Specifically, Israel has an oil pipeline that runs from the
Mediterranean to the Red Sea, which Russia could use to trans-ship oil from
tankers coming from the Black Sea to Asian markets These markets are
currently dominated by Saudi Arabia because of its strategic proximity to
Indian Ocean shipping lanes. A shortcut for Russian oil to
Asia "A recent agreement
between Russia and Israel will soon allow Russia to supply the Asian markets
with crude oil through the Trans-Israel Pipeline (TIPline), a 150-mile
pipeline running straight through Israel, thus breaking for the short term
the Saudi near-monopoly on oil sales to East Asia, the world's fastest
growing energy market." The article can be read at: http://www.iags.org/n0331044.htm Looks like Israel could become
a major strategic player in the oil trans-shipment business, which may make
for Israel's peace not only with the Arabs, but with the Russians. Here is another article
(somewhat dated) about movement toward rapprochement between Israel and other
regional powers in the interest of economics. Turkey, Israel make undersea
connections "Leaders in Israel and
Turkey envision a network of four underwater pipelines for transporting
Russian oil and natural gas, with feeder lines to Jordan, the Palestinian
Authority and Lebanon. "The joint Turkish-Israeli
development plan holds the promise of accelerating economic growth in the
Middle East. A $50 million feasibility study is financed by the
Luxembourg-based European Investment Bank, officials from Turkey and Israel
say. "India is a main backer of
the proposed network of pipelines because of the energy needs of its
fast-growing economy." http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20060430-010130-7755r.htm The article also notes that
pipelines for shipping fresh water could be laid. In the 21st Century, many experts predict that water will be as
valuable a resource in the Middle East as oil. It seems that Israel may become
the key to economic expansion and prosperity for the Middle East, Russia,
Asia and Europe. Israel is now the
eye of the religious, political and cultural storm that gathers over the
world. Soon it will be the critical
nexus of much of the world's economy.
I have thought for some time
that Jerusalem, as the center of apostate Judaism, could well be the Great
Whore of Revelation 17. It seems that
it may also become the capital of the 'economic Babylon' of Revelation 18. Revelation 18 (NIV) "Every sea captain, and
all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea,
will stand far off. 18When they see the smoke of her burning, they will
exclaim, 'Was there ever a city like this great city?' 19They will throw dust
on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: " 'Woe! Woe, O great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth! In one hour she has been brought to ruin!' " Below is a map showing how
Israel is located in the right spot at the right time:
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