Israel Has Ships

Israel has had a problem that was revealed by the 1970s. The Promised Land was oil-poor, compared to all of its neighbors. While the nation has embraced both low tech (water heaters) and high tech (electricity generation) solar energy, a war of survival- with its tanks and airplanes- relies on scare petroleum. While the details of such critical information is a military secret, Israel must maintain significant stockpiles of fuel. The Abraham Accords and previous agreements with neighbors Egypt and Jordan have reduced the existential threat - in trade, diplomacy, and military arenas- of hostile neighbor nations. But as much goodwill can come from peacetime trade, Israel’s neighbors are in no strategic position to provide fuel for Israel’s military. Thus, the US has for decades exported fuel to Israel on a run from Texas to Ashkelon via the Mediterranean Sea, on ships flying the American flag. With access to the Black Sea restricted on account of Turkey’s neutrality in the Ukraine war, this thin lifeline could be critical to the defense of Israel. Fortuitously, the US Maritime Administration increased subsidies for American oil tankers several years ago, putting this part of the fleet in a relatively robust position. Although less efficient in size than commercial tankers, the Military Sealift Command has an excess of fleet oilers as the new John Lewis class is introduced into service, with retiring ships in serviceable condition. Crewing of merchant vessels might present the weakest link. Wartime double pay proved to be sufficient incentive during the Vietnam and Gulf War eras. Even without this bonus, American ships have been successfully supplying defense materials to Eastern Europe for the past 18 months. But in terms of shipping, Israel is not dependent on allied nations. Zim, the nation's flagship line, sails globally, and has done so since the founding of the State of Israel.