Israel Lebanon War and BTC Pipeline

The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline made its first shipment on 4 June 2006 and the line officially opened on 13 July 2006. Once the Samsun-Ceyhan oil pipeline is finished (next year probably) the Russian gas from Black Sea port of Turkey (Samsun) will also join Ceyhan terminal.

Even though the line was supposed to channel Central Asian oil to Western markets and so much fuzz has been made about it, some developments have not appeared in western media much. Israel wants to re-export the Caspian oil and gas to the Asian market through the Red Sea port of Eilat.

Israel desires to link the BTC pipeline to the Israeli port of Askshelon through a 600 km underwater pipeline, and hence become an energy hub. From Ashkelon the oil could be pumped through already existing Askshelon-Eilat pipeline to port of Eilat at the Red Sea. And from there oil could be transported by tankers to Asian markets.

Back in February 2006, a delegation of the leaders of 50 Jewish-American organizations visited Baku and met with President Ilham Aliyev.

In April 2006, Israel and Turkey announced plans for possible plans of constructing four underwater pipelines one for oil, one for gas, one for electricity and one for water. Turkey and Israel are said to negotiate this deal.

In May 2006, Joseph Shagal (member of Knesset) confirmed that ambition. Mr. Natig Aliyev had invited Israeli Infrastructure Minister to visit traditional Caspian oil exhibition-conference in June 2006.

At press conference on 8 June 2006 (the opening ceremony of the 13th international Oil and Gas exhibition and conference 2006), Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, Israeli minister of national infrastructure, said that “Israel interested in signing long-term agreement for oil supply with Azerbaijan,” and added later on that “This pipeline is the shortest and cheapest way from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea.”

Meanwhile, Israel already approached Russia on bringing Russian gas to Israel through that new pipeline. By the way, currently Israel receives most of its oil from Russia.

That offer of course is not restricted to oil. One the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline completed at the end of this year Azerbaijani gas from Shah Deniz field will flow to Turkey. Meanwhile, there are several ongoing projects to deliver this gas to Europe. But some amount could also be directed to Israel.

Now, let us look at the recent diplomatic relations between Israel and Turkey. Israeli-Turkish relations became cold in March 2004 and in May 2004. Turkey even considered recalling its ambassador from Tel Aviv. Things cooled down when the chief of the Israeli General Staff Dan Halutz visited Ankara and Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul visited Tel Aviv in December 2005/January 2006. But it should be kept in mind that Israel and Turkey has already a defense pact.

Only one day after the official inauguration of BTC pipeline Israel attacked Lebanon.

Now, what this BTC pipeline to do with the Israeli invasion of Lebanon? Is it too far fetched to claim that Israel is already started to clear the security of the proposed line, considering the fact that it is only the Lebanon part that would be insecure to attacks?

“Saving Private Ryan” is just a pretext?

Or all this is just a coincidence?

See you where parallels intersect.