Article

2014-12-09 Israel-Palestine-Jordan

How will the sharp drop in oil prices affect Israel's relations with its neighbors?

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2014-12-09 04:33|| || Front Page|| [1 views ] Top

#1 Key for Israel is that she needn't depend on hot enemies or cold friends for her supply. It's a nice extra that, even at a lower price point she can supply neighbours Egypt and Jordan, when their brotherly Arab countries do not, supporting their viability. Making profits on sales elsewhere is a bonus to the economy, sure, but overall Israel is doing just fine, and China, Russia, and other points east are very interesting in expanding trade.

That the Palestinians choose to be a captive market against the imaginary day when they inherit the supply is immaterial, as they generally don't pay their bills anyway.

Posted by trailing wife 2014-12-09 08:33|| 2014-12-09 08:33|| Front Page Top

#2 Why didn't OPEC cut supply, particularly at the request of so many members? Because Saudi Arabia is willing to do whatever it has to do to keep the west, and the US, in a dependent position. They will cut prices like their lives depend on it, because they do.
Ask yourself: would Gulf War 1 & 2 have happened if we didn't need their oil then?
Once we break the dependency chain, they're toast, and they know it.

Posted by ed in texas 2014-12-09 08:52|| 2014-12-09 08:52|| Front Page Top

23:26 Canuckistan sniper
22:59 JosephMendiola
22:47 Pappy
22:28 JosephMendiola
22:22 Zenobia Floger6220
22:15 JosephMendiola
22:07 JosephMendiola
21:59 JosephMendiola
20:42 SteveS
16:54 charger
16:39 3dc
16:38 3dc
16:37 Ebbang Uluque6305
16:20 texhooey
16:18 Frank G
16:14 Frank G
16:09 Frank G
15:25 rjschwarz
15:22 rjschwarz
15:20 rjschwarz
15:18 Procopius2k
15:13 DarthVader
15:13 Iblis
15:11 Captain Thineque1511