East Mediterranean Petroleum: Geopolitical Dimensions

This book is a series of studies on petroleum in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin presented by researchers specialized in the energy field in the Arab countries and the region during a seminar organized by the Institute for Palestine Studies in Beirut on December 19, 2014. It is intended to be the first one in a series of seminars on this issue in the coming years.

The scientific seminar addressed the topic of petroleum (especially gas) exploration in the Mediterranean waters  and the questions it raises in Arab circles. It also discussed the issue of the development of petroleum industry, which is a lengthy endeavor that requires a lot of time at the levels of exploration, development of fields, the start of production, the meeting of domestic demand for energy, and the construction of high-cost projects to export oil and gas to world markets, as well as the repercussions on the Arab-Israeli conflict.

The seminar was attended by Rabih Yaghi, Lebanese Parliament's Energy Committee adviser, Dr. Ibrahim Zahran, petroleum expert specialized in the assessment and development of oil fields, Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, former Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister, Wissam Dahabi, member of the Lebanese Petroleum Association, David Friedman, news editor specialized in oil, Samer Khalaf, CEO of Middle East and Africa Organization in BP Neftagaz Services B. V, Dr. Marwan Iskandar, economic researcher and adviser, and Dr. Walid Khaddouri, member of the Board of Trustees of the Institute for Palestine Studies and energy expert, who organized the seminar and edited the book. The studies also addressed the issues of energy and conflicts over borders in Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Syria, Egypt, Turkey and Cyprus.