This could be an economic strategy move. By selling gas to Israel "for an unlimited amount of time", Israel wouldn't be in a position to put the gas fields on line immediately. Thus, Qatar with its 15% of the gas market could still reap profits before getting another competitor. According to analysts, Israel has a HUGE gas field, and its right next to Europe. At today's high energy prices, Qatar can afford to sell for "below market prices" and still walk away with many millions of $$$.

sending its gas through a pipeline to the Mediterranean, thus bypassing Egypt and savings millions of Suez canal fees and shipping diesel.

In 1999, the "Palestinians" had the fastest growing economy in the world and a rather low unemployment rate. Had they positioned it correctly they could have made themselves the off-shoring choice of Arab nations and Europe, because they had the hi-tech powerhouse of Israel next door. They torpedoed the entire thing by attacking civilians and following their old racist narrative of trying to destroy Israel. No one wants to invest in such a risky place and all investors went home, even Qatar who pledged $25mm to build up the Gaza beach resort. But with investment comes responsibility and milestone obligations. It's just easier to threaten the world and squeeze the UN for the same investment, which requires no other obligation than simply breathing and breeding.

If Iran blocks the waters near Qatar, it will affect Iraq and Kuwait as well, both tied closely to the US military. Plus you have the US military operating there, so any stepping out of line by Iran will be met very heavily by Western forces, and Iran knows this.

so why then are so many Leftists too stupid to even check up on publicly available facts before opening their mouths? Pete in the UK is a prime example of stupidity gone amuck. Pete - any US aid is obligated to be spent INSIDE the US. It's called "govt stimulus" and targets one US industry with the result of keeping thousands of jobs open, and families in their homes during a bad economy. Conversely, the taxpayers funds from the US (and the UK) that go to corrupt Arab regimes, especially the "Palestinians" leave your shores never to return. And while you're using the Internet to check basic facts, be sure to check the mapping of the field by Nobel energy which places the gas field well inside Israeli and Cypriot borders. Would you like your crow...fried or boiled?