14 Days: Gas deal

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GAS DEAL

Israel, Egypt and the European Union sealed a memorandum of understanding on June 15 in Cairo that paves the way for Israeli natural gas exports to European countries, which are seeking to reduce their dependence on supply from Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine. As European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen looked on, the deal was signed by EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson, Egyptian Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla and Israel Energy Minister Karine Elharrar. The landmark agreement enables Israel to send natural gas via Egypt, which will liquify it for export via sea. “This is a tremendous moment in which little Israel is becoming a significant player in the global energy market,” said Elharrar.

ATTACK FOILED

Mossad agents and their Turkish counterparts thwarted three Iranian attacks against Israeli civilians in Istanbul in June, according to a senior security official. Turkish media reported that Turkey arrested 10 members of an Iranian intelligence cell plotting to kill or abduct Israeli tourists and an unnamed former ambassador and his wife. The arrests came after the Foreign Ministry advised all Israeli citizens in Turkey to leave immediately, warning of an imminent Iranian terrorist attack against Israelis. Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said during a visit to Istanbul on June 23 that Israel and Turkey hoped to lift the travel warning before the peak summer season.

Israeli literary giant A.B. Yehoshua. (credit: Moshe Milner/GPO)

BIDEN VISIT

Despite the Israeli coalition’s collapse, US President Joe Biden plans to visit Israel, the West Bank and Saudi Arabia from July 13-16, the administration announced. The president will “reinforce the United States’ iron-clad commitment to Israel’s security and prosperity,” the statement read, while a senior official said Biden seeks to “rekindle a new political horizon.” The US National Security Council spokesperson said: “We have a strategic relationship with Israel that goes beyond any one government. The president looks forward to the visit next month.”