Israel’s energy supply faces renewed threat as war risks persist

After brief closures of natural gas platforms in the Mediterranean, Israeli officials fear the sites could be targeted again if talks with Lebanon and Iran fail to reach lasting deals.

By World Israel News Staff

Israel’s offshore natural gas platforms have again emerged as a major security concern, with officials warning that the strategic facilities remain vulnerable to attack even after some production resumed this month.

The concern centers on platforms such as Leviathan, Tamar and Karish, which supply most of Israel’s electricity and also support exports to neighboring countries.

The issue gained new urgency after Israel shut down key gas production sites on February 28, when the war with Iran erupted and security officials feared the platforms could be targeted.

Reuters reported at the time that Leviathan was shut down and Energean’s production vessel serving several Israeli fields was also halted, with Israel’s Energy Ministry saying the move was based on “security assessments.”

Although Leviathan resumed operations on April 2 and Karish later restarted as the immediate risk eased, Israeli concerns have not disappeared.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Leviathan was allowed back online partly because it sits relatively closer to shore, while Karish’s more exposed northern offshore location had made it a greater worry during the fighting.

The stakes are high because natural gas underpins Israel’s power system. In normal times, domestic electricity generation relies mainly on gas from Leviathan, Tamar and Karish, with coal and diesel used as backup.

During the shutdown, coal use surged and emergency fuel use increased, adding significantly to energy costs.

The broader vulnerability is not only economic. Energy analysts say Israel’s offshore infrastructure is exposed to missile strikes, drones, naval infiltration and underwater sabotage.

Hezbollah is widely seen as the most immediate operational threat, given its missile and drone capabilities and its past threats against the Karish field during maritime border disputes with Lebanon.

That danger is compounded by the regional backdrop.

Reuters reported this week that Israel is still fighting Hezbollah even as it pursues negotiations with Lebanon, underscoring that the northern front remains active and unstable. Any further escalation there could quickly renew the risk to offshore energy assets.

The economic fallout from a prolonged shutdown could be substantial.

According to figures cited by the Jerusalem Post, the temporary closure of Leviathan and Karish caused an estimated NIS 1.7 billion in total damage, including higher electricity production costs, lost state revenue and losses for gas companies. Egypt was also affected by the disruption, as it relies in part on Israeli gas flows.