Saudi Arabia Eyes Israeli Gas in Potential Normalization Agreement

Hebrew media sources have revealed ongoing discussions about the potential sale of Israeli gas to Saudi Arabia, contingent upon the signing of a public normalization agreement between the two nations. This possibility was confirmed by Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen.

In an interview with the Hebrew daily “Israel Hayom,” Cohen disclosed that the proposal was put forward by “NewMed Energy,” a company owned by businessman Yitzhak Tshuva, which is a partner in the Leviathan gas field.

The company indicated that Saudi Arabia has shown significant interest in purchasing Israeli gas, partly due to its reputation as a clean and environmentally friendly energy source.

Yossi Abu, CEO of “NewMed Energy,” affirmed that his company has been in direct contact with Saudi officials, who have expressed a clear desire to buy gas from Israel. He also mentioned that the international energy giant “Chevron,” which is a partner in the Leviathan field and also active in Saudi Arabia, could play a role in this deal.

Should this proposal move forward, the gas could be transported to Saudi Arabia using the existing infrastructure that currently channels natural gas from the Leviathan field to Egypt and Jordan. This process would require the addition of a 30 to 40-kilometer pipeline, a relatively short distance that could be completed in a short time.

Cohen noted that a significant decision must be made regarding the quantities of gas to be exported from Israeli fields.

He emphasized that Israel is keen to increase its exports to Egypt, which is facing a gas shortage leading to power outages.

Cohen added that Israel aims to expand its gas exports to other Muslim countries, alongside Egypt and Jordan, and there are also plans to export gas to Europe.

Recently, the American newspaper Politico confirmed that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is eager for public normalization with Israel, despite fears of backlash from the Saudi population, even expressing concerns about the possibility of assassination.

The newspaper reported that bin Salman fears an assassination attempt similar to that of former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat if he announces normalization with Israel.

According to Politico, the Crown Prince is well aware of assassination risks, having told U.S. lawmakers that he faces such threats in his pursuit of a major deal with the United States and Israel, which includes normalizing Saudi-Israeli relations.

On at least one occasion, the Saudi prince cited Sadat, the Egyptian leader who was assassinated after reaching a peace agreement with Israel, questioning what the U.S. did to protect Sadat.

The Crown Prince also discussed the threats he faces, explaining that any such deal must include a genuine path to a Palestinian state—especially now, as the war in Gaza has exacerbated Arab anger toward Israel.

These discussions were relayed by a former U.S. official familiar with the talks and two others with knowledge of them. All individuals, like others mentioned in this article, were granted anonymity to describe this sensitive and high-stakes subject.

The discussions on this topic were serious and significant, but one conclusion, as stated by those familiar with the matter, is that the Crown Prince, often referred to as MBS, appears determined to secure the grand deal with the U.S. and Israel despite the risks involved. He views it as crucial for his country’s future.

The broad outlines of the largely secret agreement, still under development, have emerged in various reports, involving multiple U.S. commitments to the Saudis, including security guarantees through a treaty, assistance with a civilian nuclear program, and economic investments in sectors like technology.

According to some reports, Saudi Arabia will limit its dealings with China as part of the concessions Riyadh offers under this deal and will establish diplomatic and other relations with Israel—a significant boon for the Israelis, given the Kingdom’s importance among Islamic countries.

However, the Israeli government has been reluctant to include a credible path to a Palestinian state in the agreement.

One person familiar with the discussions between bin Salman and regional and American leaders stated, “The Saudis care deeply about this issue, as does the street across the Middle East, and my role as the guardian of the holy sites of Islam would not be secure if I did not address the most pressing issue—justice in our region.”

When I first heard about the details of what the Saudi prince was saying, I was intrigued and skeptical.

Of course, I thought about the late journalist Jamal Khashoggi, whom Mohammed bin Salman is accused of ordering to be killed, but now it is bin Salman who fears for his life? Is this ironic?

I also recalled many previous reports on how Mohammed bin Salman seemed indifferent to the Palestinians, viewing their cause as a hindrance to Arab progress and their leaders as incompetent, and wondered why the threat he now faces is more severe than those he has faced for a long time: he has pushed for dramatic social changes in the Kingdom, disregarded many of his relatives, and angered conservative Islamic clerics who are surely displeased with him.

But the more I thought about it and spoke with people smarter than me, the more I came to see that framing bin Salman’s situation this way is a clever diplomatic marketing strategy: he is saying that his life is at risk to pressure American officials to push Israel into accepting a deal he favors.

Claiming that you are risking your life for a potentially historic deal is certainly a compelling way to capture your interlocutors’ attention, and it’s fair to say that this is also true.