Facing threats and opportunity, Israel forges Mediterranean alliance - CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR

Baz Ratner/Reuters - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
 climbs out after a visit inside the Rahav, the fifth submarine in the
 Israeli Navy's fleet, after it arrived in Haifa port January 12, 2016

SHIFT IN STRATEGIC THINKING Israelis who once had their backs to the water are looking to the eastern Mediterranean to find partner countries to exploit natural gas reserves and bolster Israeli security.

By Joshua Mitnick, Correspondent
JANUARY 25, 2016

TEL AVIV — With Israel’s flag flapping over the country’s newest piece of military hardware, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu descended very carefully into the nuclear submarine INS Rahav at its inaugural ceremony this month in Haifa.

There’s been little tentative, however, about Israel’s recent push westward into the Mediterranean Sea with a mix of added naval force and energy diplomacy.