Murphy Oil Draws Boycott Call Over Israeli Gas Licenses

Pro-Palestinian activists who pressured Eni and Dana Petroleum to quit an Israeli offshore gas venture are now going after Murphy Oil, the Houston-based company that replaced them on Monday. The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement and its partners called on Murphy on Wednesday to give up the six Zone G exploration licenses it holds 50-50 with Israel’s Ratio Energies. The licenses cover about 1,700 square kilometers of seabed near the Leviathan gas field, and Murphy is the operator.

Israel awarded Zone G in October 2023 to Eni, Ratio and Aberdeen-based Dana, a subsidiary of state-run Korea National Oil Corporation. Eni withdrew earlier this year, citing a reallocation of investments, and Israeli financial daily Globes reported that pro-Palestinian pressure also made the company reluctant to enter Israel.

Israel’s Energy Ministry announced Dana’s exit on Monday, according to Korea’s Yonhap news agency. Dana had faced protests in Aberdeen and a complaint to South Korea’s Board of Audit and Inspection. According to the civic group that filed the complaint, the board closed the case after finding that the licensing process had stopped and that Dana plans to withdraw. Dana and KNOC have not commented. Israeli media have reported that Dana can rejoin with regulatory approval.

This story was originally published by OilPrice.com. Read the full story at OilPrice.com →