The Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Eli Cohen, has spoken about the future of the energy sector under the occupation, his opposition to rising prices and “green energy” targets, and the possibility of reaching new normalisation agreements — particularly with Saudi Arabia — once a ceasefire is reached in Gaza.
Cohen, who previously held the posts of Minister of Intelligence and Foreign Affairs, revealed in an interview with Maariv that:
“An agreement with Saudi Arabia is on the table. As part of it, there is an intention to establish an energy corridor from Saudi Arabia to Israel, bypassing both the land route through Iran and the sea route via the Suez Canal.”
According to Cohen, this potential normalisation deal would “help lower global prices,” making Saudi Arabia “more open to energy demand in Europe,” while also benefiting Israel economically.
Saudi Arabia’s Conditional Stance
Riyadh has repeatedly stressed that no agreement with the Israeli occupation can take place without recognising a sovereign Palestinian state and initiating a serious political process leading to its establishment.
This consistent Saudi position has long been a key obstacle to the broader American-Israeli agenda of expanding the so-called Abraham Accords.
Eli Cohen’s Political Ambitions
Maariv noted that Cohen — a member of the Israeli security and political cabinet and one of the most popular figures within the ruling Likud party — has previously served as both Foreign Minister and Economy Minister, but has yet to hold the Finance Ministry portfolio.
He expressed his aspirations clearly:
“I am very interested in the position of Finance Minister, assuming Likud forms the next government. It’s not a common ambition, but it interests me — because it allows one to express an economic and social vision.”
Energy as a Strategic Tool of Influence
Cohen went on to describe natural gas as a “vital national resource,” claiming that annual gas revenues already amount to tens of billions of shekels and could eventually reach hundreds of billions.
He justified the export of gas to Egypt and Jordan, saying these deals “strengthen Israel’s regional status” — an admission of how the occupation’s energy exports are being used as a political instrument to consolidate its influence in the region.
“Our gas reserves are sufficient for thirty years,” Cohen added. “Those who once opposed exploiting gas resources are now lecturing us, but I ignore them. Export permits encourage companies to explore. The sovereign wealth fund continues to grow and will serve us for generations.”
Context & Perspective
This interview, widely circulated in Israeli media, highlights Tel Aviv’s push to tie economic cooperation with political normalisation — even as the people of Gaza remain under siege and their cities in ruins.
While Israel markets its gas exports as a symbol of “regional partnership,” it continues to exploit Arab resources and diplomacy to normalise occupation and oppression.
The so-called “energy corridor” is not merely a trade route — it is part of a larger geopolitical effort to bypass the Palestinian cause and present occupation as “economic progress.”
For the Muslim world, such developments underscore the urgent need for political awareness and unity, ensuring that no economic or political normalisation comes at the expense of justice for Palestine.
