Natural gas fields give Israel a regional political boost

A decade after discovering natural gas fields off its Mediterranean coast, Israel is starting to feel the geopolitical boost.

Its newfound riches have fostered economic bonds with its neighbors, tightening relations with Arab allies, and built new bridges in a historically hostile region - even without significant progress being made toward peace with the Palestinians.

Last week's inclusion of Israel into the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum in Cairo - a consortium aiming to cut infrastructure costs and lower prices - marked the first time Arab countries accepted Israel into such a regional alliance, sparking excitement in the country that its long-held hope of finally also making "economic peace" with Egypt and Jordan was fast approaching.

"I think this is the most significant economic cooperation between Egypt and Israel since the signing of the peace...