Sarah J Travagline (@Travag)

While everyone is focused on Iran . . . Israel, Gulf states pursue secret energy corridor to bypass Hormuz. https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/08/05/israel-gulf-states-pursue-secret-energy-corridor-to-bypass-hormuz/ https://archive.is/FHqOq Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen reveals talks on routing Gulf energy exports through Israel, aiming is to reduce the reliance on the Strait of Hormuz and establish a new corridor to Europe. This map shows a proposed Gulf oil bypass pipeline that would send oil from Qatar and the UAE to the Mediterranean through Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, and Israel. The biggest appeal is obvious. It would avoid the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal, and even the Bab el-Mandeb route, cutting around some of the most vulnerable chokepoints in global energy trade. That would make it strategically powerful, especially at a time when shipping routes across the region feel more exposed than ever. In theory, it could give Gulf producers a direct westward outlet without relying on the narrow maritime passages that can be disrupted by war, blockades, or regional escalation. But the politics are just as big as the geography. A route like this would have to cross multiple states with competing interests, security risks, and unresolved regional tensions. And if Israel became too politically difficult, a western extension through Jordan and Syria would likely be discussed instead.