Prime Minister's Office director-general Avigdor Yitzhaki: The gas pipeline company would begin receiving Egyptian gas in June 2006.
"The first words Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher told Prime Minister Ariel Sharon during his visit to Israel last week was that the natural gas deal with Egypt would be carried out, no matter what. The gas agreement between the countries is irrevocable," said Prime Minister's Office director-general Avigdor Yitzhaki said today. He was speaking at a meeting convened by Knesset Economics Committee chairman MK Shalom Simhon (Labor-Meimad) to discuss developments in Israel's natural gas market.
Yitzhaki cited the precedent of the oil agreement with Egypt, which has never been violated, even during periods of diplomatic tension. He said the process of building a domestic gas distribution system was full of failures, from which lessons should be drawn for the future. He added that the gas pipeline company would begin receiving Egyptian gas in June 2006.
Minister of National Infrastructures Joseph Paritzky said he personally had no problem if Israel were to have three natural gas suppliers, because demand would grow over the next 15 years.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on January 5, 2004