Woodside exit from Leviathan gas field “disappointing” local neo-liberals

Despite the Israeli neo-liberal governmental disappointment surrounding Woodside Petroleum’s decision to abandon the Leviathan gas field partnership Israeli energy analysts are confident in the developers’ ability to move forward, particularly with regional pipeline options. Following a memorandum of understanding with the Leviathan partners in February, the Australian hydrocarbon firm had been expected to take on a 25 percent, $2.71 billion at the end of March. A deal failed to pan out on the scheduled agreement date, and negotiations among the parties were officially terminated overnight on Tuesday.

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Unlike the disappointment shown on Wednesday, MK Dov Khenin (Hadash) who has long been vocal about minimizing gas export quantities and combating corporate interests’, celebrated the termination of the negotiations with Woodside.  “Now the pressure of business and diplomacy has been removed, and the government must take this opportunity to formulate a serious energy policy that serves the public and not a handful of gas tycoons,” he said.  “Now we need to continue to fight for prioritizing needs of the Israeli economy,” Khenin agreed. “We must ensure that gas profits reach the public and do not serve foreign capitalist in producing a quick and easy profit.”