Elai Rettig @ElaiRettig Twitter profile

Last Seen Profiles

@gillie_yomakura

@HintzeMari15660

@carmenosoriomor

@ParkerTama53307

@LiN_official

@mmdlkmly17

@kasotsukaaca

@HMSPostgradCE

@SodorSamurai

@mybitchness

@CarpenterTrade

@fxedeal

@LindaArago83733

@YenGarcidor

@gooner_kt4l

@SaraAbdulnasser

@WMCaldwell70

@OlarinmadeD

@cristas1997

@withlud

@PodTimeSpace

@4nuitsuka

@DrillChiban

@Rezac_Howie

@Brocasito

@JamesPort32

@CheriFreem42783

@ElMichalito

@FosterLynn39520

@ohthistiana_

@Aziz21sk

@Bala_brawl

@Simclay

@spencer_perry81

@RonnysKid32

@LisaMiller77675

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

Following #Israel 's decision to cut the #electricity supply to #Gaza , I'm sharing a short informational thread with background on Gaza's electricity sector and the consequences of the supply cut: In times of peace, 50% of the electricity in Gaza is provided by Israel for free ->

123

2K

4K

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

Gaza residents are used to outages and have an average of 4 hours of electricity per day. Hamas has not bothered to restore the electrical infrastructure in Gaza since it was damaged in Operation Protective Edge in 2014, despite the many foreign aid funds that were provided ->

8

250

1K

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

Regarding free Israeli electricity to Gaza. Technically the Palestinian Authority is billed for it, but that’s just a workaround to satisfy domestic Israeli politics. The PA doesn’t pay the bill, it accumulates the debt for Gaza and every few years the debt is forgiven/erased.

24

191

1K

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

Col. Roy Levy, who was killed while defending Kibbutz Reim from Hamas invasion, was also my student. His final paper was about Israeli-Palestinian energy cooperation. He wanted to improve the lives of Palestinians via electricity provision. He was kind & brilliant. Rest in peace.

22

323

990

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

-> Residents of Gaza who can afford it have already found independent solutions (diesel generators and solar panels). In a tactical sense, the underground Hamas bunkers and HQ will likely still have electricity because they would have stockpiled diesel fuel for months ahead ->

2

125

773

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

-> Gaza also has an independent diesel-fueled power plant that generates 25% of its needs, and the rest is generated through a vast deployment of private diesel generators, and one of the largest share of rooftop solar PV panels in the world. ->

5

144

751

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

-> The broader impact of the power outage will be mainly on the water supply, water desalination, and sewage treatment in Gaza, which needs an electricity supply to operate and can create a crisis if not eventually addressed. /end

6

109

697

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

@bosco_irl Yes, Hamas rocket attacks on Saturday damaged several of the electricity links leading into Gaza. This time Israel refused to repair the links, unlike with previous rocket attacks. Hamas essentially damaged its own electricity supply.

2

201

668

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

11 months

Last week, Israel quietly approved the development of “Gaza Marine”, a small offshore gas field near Gaza that will serve the Palestinian Authority (and Hamas) both for revenue and energy independence. Why was it approved, and how does this relate to the Lebanon deal? A thread.

21

227

562

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

Since I can’t share long videos on this platform, for a more detailed 3-minute video I made on the issue, you can visit my LinkedIn page: Or Facebook page:

Elai Rettig

Following Israel's decision to cut the electricity supply to Gaza, I'm sharing a short informational briefing I gave with background on Gaza's electricity sector and the consequences of the supply...

m.facebook.com

2

65

491

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

@mohannadaama @MattGoldstein26 Technically the Palestinian Authority is billed for the electricity to Gaza, but that’s just a workaround to satisfy domestic politics in Israel. The Palestinian Authority doesn’t actually pay the bill, and every few years the debt is forgiven and erased. Current debt is 2b NIS

5

35

358

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

@CivtechDev @SaraHirschhorn1 Hamas indeed reported that the power station has already ran out of fuel, but the plant’s diesel storage capacity is designed to last for at least two weeks. This means that Hamas emptied the storage itself. Most likely to power its own generators in the bunkers to last longer.

2

51

252

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

@emilykschrader @GrishaConsult That’s just on paper. IEC needs documentation of a debt for financial reports. But the PA debt is never payed and is eventually forgiven every few years. The electricity debt currently stands at 2b NIS = around 500m USD.

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

Regarding free Israeli electricity to Gaza. Technically the Palestinian Authority is billed for it, but that’s just a workaround to satisfy domestic Israeli politics. The PA doesn’t pay the bill, it accumulates the debt for Gaza and every few years the debt is forgiven/erased.

24

191

1K

3

24

226

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

@rnenrdsmnt @mohannadaama @MattGoldstein26 It is not. It just threatens to do it every few years. You’ll find similar reports from 2014, 2017 and 2019. None of them ended in Israel claiming the debt. It just accumulates. The Palestinian Authority refuses to pay Gaza’s debt because it’s ruled by Hamas. No real solution.

3

9

160

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

@CivtechDev @SaraHirschhorn1 I’m not sure if you’re upset with me or with Hamas. This is an informational thread. I’m answering you with the facts that I have. The power plant is controlled by Hamas. If its storage is already depleted, it means Hamas emptied it for its own use. It’s a common wartime measure.

5

7

103

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

2 years

1/ There is some confusion in Israeli public discourse regarding the maritime border agreement with Lebanon. Many Israelis think that the government is giving up sovereign territory and a developed gas field (“Karish”) to Lebanon, and are angry. But none of that is true. Thread:

6

19

85

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

A deep dive into Gaza's fuel situation (updated thread): how much diesel is available in Gaza, how much does Gaza need for basic humanitarian provisions, how much does Hamas have, what does Hamas need it for, and who has the responsibility to provide more when it runs out? ->

2

29

66

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

I posted this thread in June explaining why #Israel 's right-wing government approved the development of the #GazaMarine gas field after 20 years. It was just one example of increased cooperation between Israel and Hamas in the past year, which included the #Gas4Gaza project. 🧵->

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

11 months

Last week, Israel quietly approved the development of “Gaza Marine”, a small offshore gas field near Gaza that will serve the Palestinian Authority (and Hamas) both for revenue and energy independence. Why was it approved, and how does this relate to the Lebanon deal? A thread.

21

227

562

4

24

68

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

I was asked by a reporter if it's plausible that a Gaza energy official would provide such sensitive information to an IDF officer. Surprisingly, yes. Energy is a rare arena where Israel & Gaza have been cooperating for years, and this will only expand after the war. A thread ->

1

36

69

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

@archivescw Around 10% of Gaza’s water comes from Israel. The rest is produced from local reservoirs in Gaza, but 70% of that is undrinkable. UN invested in water treatment plant, but sketchy electricity provision + theft of water pipelines by Hamas forces population to rely on water trucks

1

24

58

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

For those interested in more data on solar panels in Gaza, I recommend the attached paper by Fischhendler, Herman, and David (2022). They used satellite imagery to asses the number of solar energy sites in Gaza. In 2012 they located 12 sites. In 2019 there were 8760 sites.

Lior Herman

@liorherman

3 years

In new research, we expose that Gaza has become a renewable energy leader despite ongoing conflict and deep poverty. 25% of Gaza’s electricity use solar energy power. There is light at the end of the panel for Gaza and climate change. Check our research

2

7

27

2

17

59

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

6 months

There's an odd conspiracy theory going around that Israel wants to capture Gaza's oil & gas fields. Gaza doesn't have any oil (neither does the West Bank). There's just one very small gas field in Gaza ("Gaza Marine"), and Israel relinquished all rights to it in 2000. See thread:

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

11 months

Last week, Israel quietly approved the development of “Gaza Marine”, a small offshore gas field near Gaza that will serve the Palestinian Authority (and Hamas) both for revenue and energy independence. Why was it approved, and how does this relate to the Lebanon deal? A thread.

21

227

562

27

32

71

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

11 months

New negotiations began over a year ago through Egypt, and finally a breakthrough occurred last week. Egypt wants to sponsor the project, and most of the gas will be sold to Egypt’s energy sector (perhaps to be exported to Europe as LNG).

1

9

50

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

11 months

The Gaza Marine was discovered in the late 90s, estimated to contain 30BCM. It accordance with international law and a series of agreements made between Israel and the Palestinians in 1999, it belongs to the PA. But de-facto, it can’t be developed without Israeli approval.

2

8

48

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

11 months

#1 : Both follow the concept of economic development as a tool for more peaceful relations (but not peace). Aka the “having something to lose” doctrine. Both Lebanon and Gaza are in very bad economic shape, and gas development could help them recover.

2

7

45

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

11 months

Dr. Benny Spanier and I wrote more extensively on this in Hebrew in a Ynet opinion column. See here: @BIUPolitics @BESA_Center @Bar_ilan @ubarilan

למה שוב מדברים על פיתוח הגז מול עזה

ייתכן שזה ניסיון סיוע למצרים, או קידום עסקת שבויים, ויכול להיות שסעודיה וטורקיה מעורבות. אך יותר מכל, זו השפעת ההצלחה של ההסכם עם לבנון

www.ynet.co.il

3

5

45

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

11 months

A second speculation is that it is part of a larger Egyptian/Israeli effort to calm down the political situation in Gaza with its warring factions (Hamas vs. Islamic Jihad). There’s also plan to build a new harbor in Egypt to bring more goods into Gaza and help its economy.

2

8

44

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

11 months

Although officially only the PA in the West Bank will receive the gas revenue, there’s no denying that Hamas will get some of it too, otherwise it won’t allow the field to be developed. It might be an Israeli prize to Hamas for helping it against Islamic Jihad militants last May.

1

6

45

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

11 months

But why did israel approve a deal that will most likely benefit Hamas? Especially with this current right-wing government in Israel who opposed a similar deal with Lebanon led by the previous government a year before? Good question. Here are the most common speculations:

2

5

45

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

11 months

One speculation is that it was meant to soften U.S. discontent over Israel’s recent decision to expand settlements. Both announcements were made the same week, so it can definitely explain the timing. But this deal was over a year in the making, so it’s not a sufficient reason.

1

4

42

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

@fisch_kopp @mohannadaama @MattGoldstein26 Here’s a recent report about an attempt by the Israeli government to collect some of the debt from the PA for years of unpaid electricity supply to Gaza. Every few years Israel claims it will demand payment, and each time the debt is eventually forgiven:

2

38

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

11 months

For over 20 years the field was left undeveloped. It was too small to attract private investment for such a risky political climate. When Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, Israel didn’t want revenue from the field to fall into their hands, so it blocked further progress.

1

5

41

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

11 months

Whether the deal goes through or not, it shows the ability of the maritime arena to be a place for economic cooperation between unlikely partners, even in harsh political circumstances. Perhaps this model can work in other places as well (Cyprus/Turkey?)

2

3

41

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

11 months

#3 : Both deals are using third party countries to help negotiate and serve as a buffer between the sides to circumvent the “we don’t talk to X” problem (USA and France+Total in Lebanon, Egypt in Gaza).

1

5

40

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

11 months

A third speculation is that other parties form the region were involved in the deal. Perhaps they are conditioning impending political or economic agreements with Israel on more concessions to the Palestinians. Perhaps normalization with Saudi Arabia? Maybe some deal with Turkey?

1

4

38

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

@robrabbo @fisch_kopp @mohannadaama @MattGoldstein26 In what way does it “shatter my tale”? Smotrich tried to garner populist votes by claiming he is going to “finally get them to pay for electricity”. But he didn’t do anything. The debt is still unpaid and electricity is free for Gaza. This gives you a peak into Israeli politics.

2

0

34

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

6 months

Every paragraph in this oped is false. Shame on @MiddleEastEye for publishing this ridiculous conspiracy theory. There’s no oil in Gaza or West Bank. There’s only one tiny gas field offshore Gaza that Israel gave away in 2000, and no one wanted to develop it for 20 years. See 🧵

4

10

34

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

1 year

Happy to update that I joined the newly-renovated @BESA_Center as a Researcher. Together we will conduct policy-relevant research on Israel's energy sector and energy security, renewable energy systems, and regional environmental threats in the Middle East. @Bar_ilan @BIUPolitics

2

31

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

11 months

Whatever the reason, there’s no denying that this deal could not have happened without the precedent created by the Lebanon maritime delimitation deal in October 2022. The similarities with that deal are clear:

1

4

32

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

11 months

#2 : Both deals include indirect negotiations between Israel and a hostile non-state militant organization which is clearly acting behind the scenes and approving the deal (Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza).

1

7

32

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

All of these projects, designed to improve the lives of Gazans, will likely be substantially postponed or canceled altogether so long as Hamas is in place. Perhaps more than anything, they demonstrate how Israel's concept of what Hamas wants from it has been shattered. end.

0

6

30

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

8 months

We’ve experienced one of the darkest days in our country’s history, and we're still counting our dead. Among them are my colleagues, students and friends. As a major war is now underway, our challenge will be to show resolve as we exact an unprecedented price on Hamas, but also->

1

4

29

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

6 months

What a great way to shoot yourself in the foot. #Jordan desperately needs desalinated water from #Israel to meet its basic needs for the next decade, while Israel just wanted some green electricity from Jordan to meet its climate goals. Cancelling this deal only hurts Jordan…

2

6

29

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

@BESA_Center Many reports are coming in that Hamas is stealing diesel from Gaza’s power plant and even from UNRWA facilities and hospitals. This ensures Hamas underground bases can power their diesel generators for months ahead. It’s a common wartime measure, but devastating to population.

2

11

29

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

8 months

at the same time, we should not allow feelings of vengeance to cloud our sense of humanity or erase the liberal values that differentiate us from our merciless surroundings. Eventually we will prevail and win. I hope the price we pay to get there won't be unbearable. Stay safe.

1

7

28

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

@haichaoyin8 I tried to upload the map again with better resolution. You can also find this map on the website of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs (OCHA)

1

7

23

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

2 years

@prokooter כמה נקודות מעניינות: 1. ניגריה מפיקה נפט גולמי אבל כמעט ואין לה בתי זיקוק שמתפקדים, אז היא צריכה לייבא תזקיקי נפט לתחבורה/תעשייה/חשמל ממדינות אחרות. זו בעיה כשאין דולרים לשלם על זה. 2. הירידה בתפוקת הנפט היא גם בגלל חבלות מכוונות של מליציות באזור הניג׳ר-דלתא שדורשות אוטונומיה

1

0

23

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

If you're interested in citing the information in this thread, I wrote a more detailed policy brief on Gaza's electricity supply for @BESA_Center . In it, I also discuss the legality of the supply cut in international law. BESA Perspectives Paper No. 2219:

Cutting the Electricity Supply to Gaza – Consequences and Implications

This policy brief provides a short background on Gaza’s electricity and water sectors and examines the immediate consequences of cutting off supply to the Gaza Strip. Overall, it argues that the...

besacenter.org

1

4

24

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

10 months

Very happy to update that I won a 2-year ISF grant for my research on "How Small States Reformulate their Grand Strategy: The Case of Israel’s Attempt to Become a Regional Power." Many thanks to the ISF, to the reviewers, and most of all to my amazing co-author Prof @shamir_eitan

2

1

22

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

-> So why does @UNRWA keep saying it will run out of fuel at any moment, but keeps operating for weeks? Hastings explains that Israel gives UNRWA only sporadic access to the terminal. By releasing alarming statements to the press, UNRWA pressures Israel to speed up coordination->

1

4

20

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

->Hamas does not see itself as a state entity responsible for fuel provision to the population. It sees itself as a liberation movement that needs diesel for resistance, and thus it's the responsibility of the UN & Israel to take care of Gaza's residents->

Hamas Official Mousa Abu Marzouk: Gaza Tunnels Were Built to Protect...

Hamas Official Mousa Abu Marzouk: Gaza Tunnels Were Built to Protect Hamas Fighters, Not Civilians

www.youtube.com

2

8

20

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

10 months

Why is Israel giving up its rights to yet another disputed gas field, this time to Cyprus? Dr. Benny Spanier wrote an interesting piece for @ynetnews today. He argues that, unlike recent deals with Gaza and Lebanon, this decision entails some major missed opportunities. A thread:

2

7

19

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

->If it has so much in storage, why doesn't Hamas release some diesel to the hospitals? It does, but very little, at a very high price, and only to those with connections to Hamas. Private businessmen & aid groups are forced to pay it to transfer diesel to the smaller hospitals->

2

8

19

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

->Important to note that diesel is not used as fuel for launching rockets. Hamas rockets (Qassam) use solid fuel, potassium nitrate. When the IDF warns that the diesel is used by Hamas for rockets, it means the manufacturing of rockets in domestic factories, not the propulsion->

3

7

18

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

11 months

@DSchindlerEcon Thanks for explaining the issue. Your thread also raises some interesting dillemmas: you say that 50% of faculty in your department are non-Dutch, and you can’t remember the last time you hired a Dutch scholar? Isn’t that problematic? Do most Dutch PhDs move abroad to find work?

2

0

18

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

@ianbremmer Ian, without diminishing the need to allow aid into Gaza, you make it seem as if Gaza has no water or electricity at all. That’s not the case. Israel provides 50% of Gaza’s electricity and only 10% of its water. The rest is still available. See my thread for more details:

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

Following #Israel 's decision to cut the #electricity supply to #Gaza , I'm sharing a short informational thread with background on Gaza's electricity sector and the consequences of the supply cut: In times of peace, 50% of the electricity in Gaza is provided by Israel for free ->

123

2K

4K

2

4

17

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

@fisch_kopp @mohannadaama @MattGoldstein26 Not really sure why you decided to climb this tree. There are over a decade-worth of UN and World Bank reports on the problem of non-payment for Gaza electricity. Here’s one from 2014: And a report by the Quartet from 2023:

World Bank Assessment and Action Plan for electricity services in Palestine - WB report - Question...

Report No: ACS9393 West Bank and Gaza Assessment and Action Plan to improve payment for electricity services in the Palestinian Territories Study on Electricity Sector Contribution to Net Lending...

www.un.org

0

2

17

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

11 months

An absolute honor to meet President Herzog 🇮🇱 as part of the Israeli National Defense College

0

1

16

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

->So who has the duty to release diesel to the residents of Gaza? Israel says that Hamas should do it, but there's no reason for that to happen because no one demands it from Hamas (except Israel). On the contrary, the pressure from the international community is only on Israel->

2

4

17

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

-> I can only imagine how frustrated energy officials in Gaza are right now with Hamas. Hamas just wasted years' worth of progress with Israel that led to better infrastructure and state-building capacities for all of Gaza's population. All gone. But what about the future? ->

1

2

15

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

9 months

1/4 I am happy to share my new paper “The Meaning of Energy Islands: Towards a Theoretical Framework,” published in "Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews", and co-authored with Itay Fischhendler (HebrewU) and Fiona Schlecht (Humboldt). Free copy here:

2

16

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

Israel just announced that SOCAR+BP won a bid to drill for gas in its EEZ near Lebanon, and ENI+Dana won a bid near Egypt. Their bids were submitted back in June, but winners only announced now. Perhaps as an Israeli signal that the war won’t disrupt the region’s gas projects.

2

5

16

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

2 years

@prokooter ולגבי מה שכתבת על מחירי הטיסות: קח בחשבון שמחירי הטיסות לניגריה תמיד עולים משמעותית בדצמבר, בגלל חג המולד.

1

0

14

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

2 years

Final/ Hezbollah apparently wants to make it seem as if its attacks on Karish are what propelled the deal forward. But this is not the case. If it wasn’t for Hezbollah, the deal would have been signed two years ago, and perhaps today Lebanon would not be in this economic chaos.

2

0

12

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

If you're interested in Gaza's energy sector, here's an extended talk I gave to the foreign press in Israel. I explain what Gaza's energy looked like before the war, what are its current fuel needs, and how the war is affecting regional energy trends:

Dr. Elai Rettig - The state of energy & water in Gaza - Where does it...

This is "Dr. Elai Rettig - The state of energy & water in Gaza - Where does it stand now?" by Israel PMO SP videos on Vimeo, the home for high quality…

vimeo.com

אוניברסיטת בר-אילן

@Bar_ilan

7 months

The state of energy and water in Gaza: a briefing to the foreign press by Dr. @ElaiRettig , of @BIUPolitics , organized by the National Public Diplomacy Directorate in the Prime Minister’s Office.

0

1

2

0

14

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

->How much diesel does Hamas need? That's also impossible to know. It needs diesel to power its underground ventilation systems, lights, and communications. @nytimes estimates it has enough for 3-4 months if that's all it does with diesel->

As Gazans Scrounge for Food and Water, Hamas Sits on a Rich Trove of Supplies

Hamas has spent years stockpiling desperately needed fuel, food and medicine, as well as ammo and weapons, in the miles of tunnels it has carved out under Gaza.

www.nytimes.com

1

4

14

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

2 years

15/ Now this is just my personal opinion on the matter: everyone wins from such a deal. Israel has an interest that Lebanon will remain stable and enjoy some prosperity with its own gas field, otherwise it will collapse into itself and that’s bad news for Israel as well. Also...

1

0

11

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

NEW PUBLICATION: "How small states break oil sanctions" is available @jststs . We explain why small states are better at locating "sanction busters" for their oil. We examine Israel's efforts to get oil from Ecuador, UK & Norway during the Arab Oil Embargo

How small states break oil sanctions: Israel’s oil import strategy in the 1970s

This article argues that small oil-importing states are particularly adept at circumventing oil sanctions and leveraging them to further expand their own markets. It points to the unique advantages...

www.tandfonline.com

2

3

14

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

-> Just the fact that half of Gaza's electricity comes from Israel (see attached thread) means that engineers on both sides need to talk and coordinate repairs, load shedding, frequency, etc. In the process, they realize the other side isn't the devil ->

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

Following #Israel 's decision to cut the #electricity supply to #Gaza , I'm sharing a short informational thread with background on Gaza's electricity sector and the consequences of the supply cut: In times of peace, 50% of the electricity in Gaza is provided by Israel for free ->

123

2K

4K

1

14

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

-> What will Gaza's energy future look like after the war? My best assumption is that preference will be given to projects that make Gaza more energy-independent, as well as more connected to new PA-controlled power plants in the West Bank. More on that in a future thread /end

2

1

14

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

I focused here only on energy projects, but these are added to many other initiatives from the past year intended to create trust-building measures between Israel and Hamas. It includes more work permits given to Gazans to come and work in Israel. ->

1

3

13

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

6 months

See this thread to understand the significance of Israel's recent decision to send two diesel trucks into Gaza every day (= around 50,000 liters daily). Diesel is needed to operate Gaza's water treatment facilities. This decision will help alleviate a big part of the crisis.

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

A deep dive into Gaza's fuel situation (updated thread): how much diesel is available in Gaza, how much does Gaza need for basic humanitarian provisions, how much does Hamas have, what does Hamas need it for, and who has the responsibility to provide more when it runs out? ->

2

29

66

1

4

14

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

2 years

בעוד שרוב תשומת הלב היא להסכם הגבול הימי המתגבש מול לבנון, התקדמות חשובה נוספת התרחשה השבוע סביב מאגר אפרודיטה על גבול ישראל-קפריסין. חלק מהמאגר נמצא בשטח ישראל והפיתוח מתעכב בגלל מחלוקת על זכויות. לאחרונה עלה חשש שקפריסין תתחיל להפיק באופן חד-צדדי, ואלו לא חדשות טובות לישראל 1/4

1

3

12

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

2 years

2/ The negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are over a small strip of economic waters (not sovereign waters) and the field under negotiation is not "Karish", but an unproven ‘potential’ reservoir called “Qana”. So here are some clarifications on the deal that’s taking shape:

1

0

12

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

2 years

6/ However, the negotiations stalled in late 2020 after Lebanon suddenly came with a completely different demand for a border line ("Line 29") which included not only all of "Qana" but also half of Israel’s "Karish" reservoir which until then was not at all under dispute...

1

0

10

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

Adding to this are increased reports on Israeli-Egyptian negotiations regarding a dedicated harbor for Gaza in the port of El-Arish. These plans resurfaced after Hamas was seen as helping Israel during its operation in Gaza against the Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group in May 2023 ->

2

4

13

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

2 years

Found out today that I won the “2022 Inspirational Professor” award from the Student Union at Bar-Ilan University 😎😎😎 @BIUPolitics @ubarilan

2

0

10

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

-> Just in the past year, Israel & Gaza have been advancing several energy projects (see attached thread). Among them: the development of Gaza's gas field, the construction of a new power plant in Gaza, and the linking of a new power line with Israel ->

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

I posted this thread in June explaining why #Israel 's right-wing government approved the development of the #GazaMarine gas field after 20 years. It was just one example of increased cooperation between Israel and Hamas in the past year, which included the #Gas4Gaza project. 🧵->

4

24

68

1

12

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

I'm sharing my policy brief for @BESA_Center on the consequences of cutting #electricity to #Gaza . I argue that the tactical benefits for #Israel are limited because #Hamas already adapted to the cuts, leaving population to bear the brunt. A short 🧵 ->

Cutting the Electricity Supply to Gaza – Consequences and Implications

This policy brief provides a short background on Gaza’s electricity and water sectors and examines the immediate consequences of cutting off supply to the Gaza Strip. Overall, it argues that the...

besacenter.org

2

3

12

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

2 years

12/ Oil and gas are not solid, so when I produce on my side I’m also "drinking" from your side (unlike coal or gold mines, which are solid). Therefore, both parties have to cooperate in some way, whether they like it or not.

3

0

10

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

The Gas for Gaza (G4G) project was meant to significantly improve the electricity supply in Gaza by providing it with subsidized gas from Israel, converting its power plant from diesel to natural gas, and upgrading its capacity (from 65MW to 600MW). EU committed 20m€ to this ->

1

2

11

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

->Since no one knows the extent of Hamas' underground city, it's also hard to estimate how much electricity it needs. If it has an underground hospital or a rocket manufacturing factory, the diesel will run out much sooner & Hamas will be under pressure to get more from outside->

2

11

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

6 months

“With Gaza’s reconstruction estimated to cost billions of dollars, the revenue from the [Gaza Marine] gas will be a drop in the bucket. It will be a nice supplement, but not more than that. it’s a rather insignificant field”

Adam Lucente

@Adam_Lucente

6 months

US energy envoy Amos Hochstein is in Israel this week. What do his trip and the war mean for plans to develop Gaza’s offshore gas field? My latest for @AlMonitor with comments from @ElaiRettig :

0

4

7

1

3

10

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

-> If Israel is viewed as the de-facto occupying force, it is required by international law to provide water, food & medicine to Gaza, but not fuel. However, without fuel there's no water in Gaza, and this complicates it all. See this thread to see why:

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

Following #Israel 's decision to cut the #electricity supply to #Gaza , I'm sharing a short informational thread with background on Gaza's electricity sector and the consequences of the supply cut: In times of peace, 50% of the electricity in Gaza is provided by Israel for free ->

123

2K

4K

2

1

11

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

2 years

8/ Perhaps they were waiting for the Trump administration to leave office, in hopes that the Biden administration would be more pro-Lebanon. Perhaps Hezbollah sabotaged negotiations at the request of Iran. In any case, all it did was delay Lebanon's chance of developing its field

1

0

9

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

2 years

7/ The new demand from Lebanon was far-fetched and was apparently intended to blow-up the negotiations, which it did. The US and Israel were not willing to discuss the matter and everything froze. There are many speculations as to why Lebanon suddenly came up with this demand.

1

0

8

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

->It's not clear where the rest of @UNRWA 's diesel comes from, since Israel says it has not allowed new diesel to enter since Oct 7. Perhaps the UN's numbers are wrong, or there's more diesel in Gaza than Israel initially assumed, or new diesel is still somehow coming into Gaza->

1

0

11

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

6 months

Israel has just decided to send 2 diesel trucks into Gaza every day. These trucks typically carry between 20k-30k liters each (5k-8k US gallons). This is a significant amount, and it will allow the operation of water treatment facilities and hospitals for Gaza's population.

0

4

11

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

2 years

19/ In any case, these negotiations have nothing to do with Israel’s “Karish” gas field. The Lebanese government is not claiming any rights over that field. Hezbollah tried to create this connection by sending drones to hit the “Karish” gas field a few months ago.

1

0

8

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

@ianbremmer That’s because there was an operation earlier this year, conducted together with the Palestinian Authority, against the militant organization “the lion’s den” that carried out attacks against Israel and destabilized the PA. Statistics need context, Ian.

In West Bank, New Armed Groups Emerge, and Dormant Ones Stir (Published 2023)

The small but influential Lions’ Den network has attracted young Palestinians disappointed by their leaders and angry at Israeli violence. Veteran fighters are restless, too.

www.nytimes.com

2

1

10

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

The Office of the Quartet ( @QuartetOffice ) was also working closely with Israel to approve a new 161kV line into Gaza that would add 100MW of electricity from Israel, in addition to the 125MW Israel already provides to Gaza via 10 interconnections ->

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

Following #Israel 's decision to cut the #electricity supply to #Gaza , I'm sharing a short informational thread with background on Gaza's electricity sector and the consequences of the supply cut: In times of peace, 50% of the electricity in Gaza is provided by Israel for free ->

123

2K

4K

1

2

11

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

-> In this sense, Israel/Gaza energy cooperation is similar to Berlin pre-1990, or Nicosia, Belfast, Mitrovica, where engineers on both sides focused more on technical problem-solving than ideological problem-creating. See Prof. Tim Moss paper on Berlin ->

Navigating electricity dependencies in Cold War Berlin: an instructive history of urban infrastru...

Navigating electricity dependencies in Cold War Berlin: an instructive history of urban infrastructure security

www.cambridge.org

1

2

10

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

10 months

@BIUPolitics @BESA_Center @Bar_ilan @ubarilan My thread on why Israel approved the development of the #GazaMarine offshore gas field was expanded and turned into a perspective paper for @BESA_Center . Feel free to cite and share.

Why Israel Approved Development of the Gaza Marine Gas Field

In June 2023, Israel quietly approved the development of Gaza Marine, a small offshore gas field near Gaza that will benefit both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas in terms of revenue and energy...

besacenter.org

2

6

17

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

1 year

Last week @ubarilan hosted a special seminar for the @IsraelMFA . Senior Israeli delegates learned about the science and politics behind climate change, and the steps needed to reach true regional environmental cooperation. Happy to speak on behalf of @BESA_Center & @BIUPolitics

0

4

9

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

2 years

You can argue over the symbolic meaning of this, which is entirely subjective, but for all intents and purposes (physical control, economic control over the area), the difference is of no consequence. Both sides win here.

4

0

9

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

@duleliyye I’ll have to get the family’s permission, but it’s a good idea and I will try to advance it. Perhaps also a scholarship in his name dedicated to the study of cooperation.

1

0

10

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

->The @IDF spotted 500k liters worth of diesel in satellite pictures. But most storage is likely held underground. Hamas depleted Gaza's power plant on the first day of the war (that's at least 400k liters), and there's a recording claiming another 500k under Shifa hospital->

1

10

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

-> After the war in Gaza ends, regardless of its results, a lot of foreign aid money will poor into Gaza for electricity/water infrastructure reconstruction. Lots of bids to win. But it will likely still require coordination with Israel. Cooperating now will go a long way ->

1

0

10

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

7 months

->Israel argues that Hamas is responsible for providing diesel to Gaza's population. But how much diesel does Hamas have? Modest assessments put the number between 800k-1m liters (200k-264k US gallons), but it's likely much more than that->

Hamas is hoarding vast amounts of fuel as Gaza hospitals run low, U.S. officials say

U.N. officials warned that aid groups, water treatment plants and bakeries in the enclave are running dangerously low on fuel.

www.nbcnews.com

1

2

10

Elai Rettig

@ElaiRettig

2 years

9/ Now, after two years of economic ruin in Lebanon, the negotiations reopened and the sides returned to the same old compromise from 2020 of dividing the territory with a tendency towards line 23, with slight adjustments. The “Karish” reservoir is not being negotiated.

1

0

8