The gas is intended for a Palestinian power station built two years ago.
Palestinian Authority (PA) Minister of Energy Azzam Shawwa has notified Minister of National Infrastructures Joseph Paritzky that the PA plans to transport natural gas bought from Egypt through a pipeline running through Israeli territory. The gas is intended for a Palestinian power station built two years ago.
Egypt also wants to sell natural gas to Israel, but the negotiations are bogged down. In response to Shawwa's letter, Paritzky said today that the matter should be viewed favorably, but that it was necessary to ensure that the gas to the PA passed through Israeli territory so that Israel could obtain natural gas through the same pipeline. Paritzky said such an arrangement would deepen Egypt's commitment to regularly supply gas to Israel.
Paritzky said, "This is an opportunity for regional cooperation between Israel, Egypt and the PA. It ties the countries together and creates a common economic interest, which can greatly contribute to the peace process."
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on April 22, 2004