Israel has asked Qatar to consider selling it natural gas, Israeli television reported on Tuesday, a deal that could help warm ties between the Jewish state and the Arab world.
Channel Two television said Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who was in Doha for a regional conference, met Qatari Energy Minister Abdullah al-Attiyah to discuss a possible gas purchase that would be worth as much as $11.4 billion. Qatar is the world's largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is gas chilled to its liquid form for shipping.
Like all six US-allied Gulf Arab states, Qatar does not have official diplomatic ties with Israel, but unlike them it does host a small Israeli trade mission. A Livni spokesman in Jerusalem could not immediately be reached for comment.
The head of Israel's trade office in Doha Roi Rosenblit declined to comment on what was discussed at the meeting, although he confirmed Livni and Attiyah met. Israel is looking to diversify its energy supplies and would like LNG to be part of the mix, an industry source said.