Minister of Energy, National Infrastructures and Water Resources Yuval Steinitz is to release details of the state's agreement with the gas exploration companies today. This follows the tangle in the Knesset last night, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to muster a majority for the motion to transfer the authority of Minister of the Economy Aryeh Deri to override the Antitrust Commissioner on matters deemed to be of importance to national security.
Steinitz is due to hold a press conference at 1 pm today together with National Economic Council chairman Prof. Eugene Kandel, Israel Tax Authority head Moshe Asher, Ministry of Finance Budgets Division head Amir Levy, Petroleum Commissioner Alexander Warshavsky, Director of the Natural Resources Administration in the Ministry of National Infrastructures, Energy and Water Yossi Wurzburger, and Prof. Eytan Sheshinski.
The transfer of the minister's powers to the full government became necessary because Deri refused to exercise them himself. Antitrust Commissioner David Gilo opposes the agreement reached with the gas companies. Netanyahu is convinced that when the public is exposed to the details of the agreement and sees its advantages for the economy and for the country's security, the Knesset will support the government's proposal.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 30, 2015
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2015