Oil in Israel? Sounds Like a Miracle

Everyone knows that there are no natural resources in Israel -- unless you count brain power. At least since Israel gave the Sinai back to Egypt, the only time you hear of finding oil in Israel is during Chanukah.  But this week, drilling off the northern coast of Israel established that there is a huge natural gas field there that would give Israel enough natural gas to meet its own energy needs "for the next 90 years." More environmentally friendly than oil and just as valuable, natural gas in a huge quantity would even make Israel an energy exporter.   Continue reading here for an enthusiastic report from The Australian that begins:  "This will boost the Jewish state's status as the Middle East's pre-eminent power."  For the economic, scientific, and political problems ahead read here in the New York Times.