An expanded panel of seven High Court of Justice judges will hear the petitions against the cabinet decision on gas export quotas on September 17, Supreme Court President Asher Grunis decided today. The date comes after Rosh Hashana.
The judges will be Grunis, Supreme Court Vice President Miriam Naor, Judge Edna Arbel, Judge Elyakim Rubinstein, Judge Salim Joubran, Judge Esther Hayut, and Judge Noam Sohlberg.
Earlier this week, the State Prosecutor asked the High Court of Justice to complete its hearing on the petitions as soon as possible. The State Prosecutor added that it did not object to Grunis's proposal last Thursday for an expanded panel to hear the case and that the hearing would go ahead as if a temporary injunction had been issued.
In a brief statement to the court, Prosecutor Adv. Aner Helman said, "Noting the urgency in the opinion of the State with regard to the hearing of the petitions and issuing a ruling on them, the State reiterates its motion to the court for the petitions to be heard as soon as possible."
The petitioners argue that the Knesset, which is the sovereign legislature, should approve the Tzemach Committee's recommendations on natural gas exports, not the cabinet, because of their huge political, social, and economic importance.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 8, 2013
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