The UK FCO: Being Mean To Israel Is How We Roll

Yesterday I posted about a new job opportunity trying to find some way for the UK to cash in on Israel’s good fortune in finding oil and gas.

It wasn’t so long ago that the UK was one of the world’s largest non-Arab sources of oil. And guess what happened when Israel asked the UK for a long term deal to buy oil direct in the late 70’s.

Here’s the Foreign and Commonwealth Office memo (from user @EquusontheBusses on Twitter):

UK FCO memo on Israeli access to North Sea Oil - Ostensibly, the Israelis seek a regular UK supply, under some sort of long-term commitment, in order to diversify their sources: they envisage the UK as their third largest source after Iran and Mexico. But North Sea Oil is not particularly suited to Israeli needs, and the Israelis must realise that, in the event of a further crisis in the Middle East, the UK would find it extremely difficult to continue supplies, in view of the Arab reaction which would certainly be adverse and could seriously damage us commercially and politically.

So basically it’s the same answer that Chamberlain gave in the minutes I cited yesterday:

*Prime Minister : “If we must offend one side let us offend the Jews rather than the Arabs.” (author’s italics).

What a bunch of wan***s.

Full text:

UK/Israel Joint Committee: October 1978
North Sea Oil for Israel

Ostensibly, the Israelis seek a regular UK supply, under some sort of long-term commitment, in order to diversify their sources: they envisage the UK as their third largest source after Iran and Mexico. But North Sea Oil is not particularly suited to Israeli needs, and the Israelis must realise that, in the event of a further crisis in the Middle East, the UK would find it extremely difficult to continue supplies, in view of the Arab reaction which would certainly be adverse and could seriously damage us commercially and politically.

1 thought on “The UK FCO: Being Mean To Israel Is How We Roll”

  1. Revenge is a dish best served 100 years old?

    Tweaking the British is a very small benefit of the gas find. But it’s an enjoyable one all the same.

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