Egyptian presidential candidate Mohamad Mohieddin says that if he wins, he would keep all of Egypt's international commitments, including the peace treaty with Israel. He told the Egyptian media, however, that if Israel violates any clause in the peace treaty, he promises to respond politically and diplomatically, in proportion to the Israeli violation.
Mohieddin said that in the event of any movement of IDF forces in Gaza, he would immediately order the redeployment of the Egyptian Army in Sinai, while maintaining diplomatic relations with Israel.
As for the issue of the price of natural gas sold to Israel, Mohieddin said, "Natural gas is a strategic product for Egypt, and it's not possible to permit the sale of a strategic product without strategic compensation." He said that he is prepared to offer Egyptian gas to Israel "for free" in exchange for removal of the settlements, establishment of safe passage between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and the lifting of the siege on Gaza.
Mohieddin said that such measures would make the establishment of a genuine Palestinian state possible, and only in that case is he prepared to export gas to Israel, even at a greatly reduced price. Otherwise the gas would stay in Egypt.
Egypt's East Mediterranean Gas Company (EMG) currently provides 40% of Israel's natural gas. Egyptian experts have been demanding that Egypt raise the price of gas sold to Israel, claiming that it costs Egypt dearly and is a waste for the Egyptian people. Egypt reportedly loses $9 million in day because of the low price of gas exported.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 7, 2011
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2011