Globes: Israel’s Business ArenaAll this noise about Turkey deflects from the very big Israeli involvement. Convenient.I covered the illicit oil trade extensively in this post: Carving Turkey After a NATO Roasting- Claims vs Reality
Israel has become the main buyer for oil from ISIS controlled territory, reports "al-Araby al-Jadeed."Kurdish and Turkish smugglers are transporting oil from ISIS controlled territory in Syria and Iraq and selling it to Israel, according to several reports in the Arab and Russian media. An estimated 20,000-40,000 barrels of oil are produced daily in ISIS controlled territory generating $1-1.5 million daily profit for the terrorist organization.
The oil is extracted from Dir A-Zur in Syria and two fields in Iraq and transported to the Kurdish city of Zakhu in a triangle of land near the borders of Syria, Iraq and Turkey. Israeli and Turkish mediators come to the city and when prices are agreed, the oil is smuggled to the Turkish city of Silop marked as originating from Kurdish regions of Iraq and sold for $15-18 per barrel (WTI and Brent Crude currently sell for $41 and $45 per barrel) to the Israeli mediator, a man in his 50s with dual Greek-Israeli citizenship known as Dr. Farid. He transports the oil via several Turkish ports and then onto other ports, with Israel among the main destinations.
In August, the "Financial Times" reported that Israel obtained 75% of its oil supplies from Iraqi Kurdistan. More than a third of such exports go through the port of Ceyhan, which the FT describe as a “potential gateway for ISIS-smuggled crude."
“Israel has in one way or another become the main marketer of ISIS oil. Without them, most ISIS-produced oil would have remained going between Iraq, Syria and Turkey. Even the three companies would not receive the oil if they did not have a buyer in Israel,” an industry official told the newspaper "al-Araby al-Jadeed."
Full report: Israel's #1 purchaser of ISIS oil-
james@wpcDecember 1, 2015 at 11:41 AM
Hi Pen,Here is the original article which is far more damning than the israeli report on it. I wrote about it a few days ago and left this link on another of your posts. Here it is again. Not to be missed, as you say :)
Thanks James!An artists' impression of Dr Farid (Uncle Farid), the Israeli-Greek oil broker That's a must read. A must read.