Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu will meet German counterpart Olaf Sholz in Berlin today to discuss energy security. Photo: AP Photo/Michael Varaklas

Benjamin Netanyahu will hold talks on international and regional security issues in Berlin today.

The Israeli Prime Minister will meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for a working lunch. They are anticipated to pursue closer energy security cooperation as Europe looks to decrease reliance on Russia energy. The controversial reform of Israel’s judicial system will likely be not be discussed during the talks, despite the German Foreign Office voicing concerns.

The decoupling of European countries from Russian gas has provided Israel with an opportunity to forge energy ties with Europe. In March 2022, Israel and Germany signed an energy cooperation partnership aimed at fostering greater cooperation between German and Israeli energy entities on the extraction of gas reserves from the vast Leviathan field.  According to a report from the Knesset Research Center, Israel could currently produce around 900 billion cubic meters of gas per year.

Despite Israel’s shift away from democracy, Germany’s continued engagement with the Netanyahu regime will be driven by realpolitik. Expect the talks to advance Germany’s involvement in helping Israel develop a pipeline connecting its drilling platforms to the European market, as well as new gas exploration contracts between German and Israeli gas companies.