Cooperation Between Middle Powers in the Energy Market: The Case of the Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline

Israel is a unique player in the global energy market. Over the past decade and a half, it has undergone a dramatic transformation from a country dependent on energy imports to a significant regional exporter of natural gas. It has also exerted both direct and indirect influence on global perceptions of energy security. Furthermore, Israel is recognized as a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship, having developed a robust research and industrial infrastructure in the energy sector. These elements, in areas such as cyber resilience, physical protection of energy infrastructure and other cross-sectoral domains, position Israel as a laboratory for shaping conceptual frameworks, advancing international cooperation and driving innovation in energy-related fields that have become increasingly critical in light of the Russia-Ukraine war, all of which exposed the vulnerability of global energy supply lines. This chapter is divided into three parts. The first section outlines the distinctive characteristics of Israel’s energy sector in comparison to its regional counterparts. The second section analyzes the factors that make Israel a unique case study for the development of energy cooperation. Finally, the third section presents the Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline as a case study demonstrating how tech middle powers can collaborate by leveraging their comparative advantages to jointly address shared challenges.