If you were gullible enough to swallow the story that Trump recognized Israeli sovereignty on the Golan Heights because it was the right thing to do, think again. He didn't even do it to bolster political support for Binyamin Netanyahu. Read on.
All the "Anglos" who ever worked for the telecommunications call center IDT in Jerusalem will be very familiar with the name Howard Jonas. But, how many know of his foray into the energy field? I certainly didn't until I was forwarded a link to a very interesting and enlightening Wikipedia entry.
Here are a few excerpts:
...In 2004, seeking to diversify, IDT Telecom’s Founder, Chairman and CEO, Howard Jonas, launched its first Retail Energy Provider or “REP” and enrolled its first energy supply customers. Then, in October, 2011, Genie Energy Ltd. (NYSE:GNE), was spun-off from IDT Corporation as an independent public company, at which point Class B common stock of Genie Energy Ltd. began trading on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "GNE".So, why, you may ask, the sudden need to take a public stance on who controls the Golan Heights? Because, dear readers, Russia is at the door!
...The president of its Israeli subsidiary is Effie Eitam. Genie Energy's Strategic advisory board is composed of: Dick Cheney (former vice president of the United States), Rupert Murdoch (media mogul and chairman of News Corp), James Woolsey (former CIA director), Larry Summers (former head of the US Treasury), Bill Richardson (former Governor of New Mexico, ex-ambassador to the United Nations and United States Energy Secretary), Michael Steinhardt, Jacob Rothschild, and Mary Landrieu, (former United States Senator from Louisiana).
In 2013, IDT Energy, Inc., a subsidiary of Genie Energy, acquired both Dallas-based Diversegy, LLC a commercial energy advisory and its network marketing channel, Epiq Energy. They are now wholly owned subsidiaries of Genie Energy Ltd.
...Genie Oil and Gas (GOGAS) explored for conventional oil in the Golan Heights through its Afek Oil and Gas subsidiary, and pursued oil shale projects through American Shale Oil (AMSO), Israel Energy Initiatives (IEI) and Genie Energy Mongolia. AMSO, IEI, and Genie Energy Mongolia are no longer active. 89% of GOGAS was owned by Genie Energy while Jacob Rothschild, Michael Steinhardt and Rupert Murdoch among others held minority interests.
...In February 2013, Israeli authorities awarded Afek Oil and Gas an exclusive 36-month petroleum exploration license to a 153-square-mile (400 km2) plot in the Golan Heights, which the UN recognizes to be Syrian territory. Afek subsequently conducted above-ground geophysical tests and based on its preliminary analysis, has applied for a ten well exploratory drilling program. South of Katzrin in the southern Golan Heights in 2015, Afek discovered a substantial amount of oil and natural gas reserves.
See also HERE and especially HERE.
Is anyone else watching what's happening up North? Is Trump really "abandoning" the Kurds to Turkey or did he move US troops knowing that Israel is going to do something dangerous with Iran and he's moving them out of harm's way? Netanyahu had two meetings with his security council yesterday and had a phone conversation with Putin last night. Today, Trump's big move in Syria... Watching with great interest.
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