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On February 21^st, the petroleum council of the Israeli Ministry of Energy and Water has granted Genie Israel Oil and Gas a three years exclusive petroleum exploration license in the occupied Golan Heights (link).

Genie Israel Oil and Gas is an Israeli private company, fully owned by an American company under the name of Genie Oil and Gas (GOGAS), which is a subsidiary of the public company Genie Energy that is traded in the Nasdaq.

According to a press release of Genie Energy published in February the petroleum exploration license covers 396.5 square kilometres in the Southern part of the Golan Heights.

Israel's exploitation of occupied natural resources is a clear violation of article 55 of the Hague Regulations, among other provisions of International Humanitarian Law, the Geneva Convention and Customary International Law.

Yet, at a similar case from December 2011 regarding mining operations in the occupied Palestinian territories, the Israeli High Court of Justice validated the excavating of natural resources in the West Bank. The legality of the Israeli quarries in the occupied West Bank was challenged by the Israeli organization Yesh Din - Volunteers for Human Rights, through a petition in 2009. However, the Israeli High Court concluded in its verdict that the Israeli quarries in the occupied West Bank are legal and do not violate international law.

Effie Eitam, the Chairman of Genie Israel Holdings which oversees Genie Oil & Gas' activities in Israel, was the Israeli Minister of National Infrastructure (2002-2003) and Israeli Minister of Housing and Construction (2003-2004) as a representative of the right wing parties: the National Religious Party and the National Union Party. Moreover, he lives in the settlement of Nov in the occupied Golan Heights. (Genie Israel Holdings is a private Israeli company, fully owned by the Dutch Genie Energie B.V which is a subsidiary of Genie Energy).

Who Profits will continue following Genie Israel Oil and Gas case and providing updates regarding their involvement in the Israeli occupation.