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Tuesday, October 07, 2008
20:37 Mecca time, 17:37 GMT
 
News Middle East
Bid to halt Egypt-Israel gas deal

One critic says the gas deal signed by Fahmi, right, in 2005 costs Egyptians $9 million a day [EPA]
 

A lawyer in Egypt has demanded that the government halt its gas exports to Israel, Al Jazeera reports.

Ibrahim Yossri, 65, arrived at the court on Tuesday to call on the Egyptian government to stop exporting natural gas to its Middle East neighbour.

Yossri, who used to work as director of international treaties in the Egyptian foreign ministry, said the deal was illegal and costing the Egyptian taxpayer $9 million a day.

"There are visible signs of public discontent and dissatisfaction over their government's relations with Israel," he said.

A $2-3bn agreement to supply natural gas to Israel was signed by Binyamin Ben Eliezer, the Israeli infrastructure minister, and Sameh Fahmi, the Egyptian oil minister, in June 2005.

The 15-year agreement, which is renewable, governs the transfer of 100-150 cubic feet of gas at $2 per cubic foot - a price well below the market benchmark of $14.

Tharwat Shalabi, an oil reporter in Egypt, said in June: "Egypt bowed to the pressure of exporting the gas at this low price.

"Egypt is committed to providing Israel with energy under the Camp David accords. It stopped exporting oil, and now it has to replace it with gas."

Amr El Khaky, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Cairo, says the case highlights the difference between Egypt's official stance on the normalisation of relations with Israel and the position shared by many Egyptian citizens almost 30 years after the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty.

Camp David signatories

The Camp David peace accords were signed in September 1978 leading to the peace treaty the following year.

It signalled the end of hostilities between the two countries, but it was never fully embraced by a sceptical Egyptian public and in many instances, was, rejected, El Khaky said.

Since then, the Egyptian leadership has maintained its commitment to peace while linking the pace of normalisation of relations to a solution being found to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Critics say Egypt is tied to providing Israel with energy under the Camp David accords [EPA]
 
Israeli government officials have visited Egypt many times since Camp David, but most have been received in Sharm El-Sheikh in the Sinai and not in the capital Cairo.

Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, has visited Israel only once during his 27 years in office, to attend the funeral of Yitzak Rabin, the assassinated prime minister.

The export of natural gas to Israel is the latest in a series of trade and energy deals signed in the last 30 years.

Earlier this year, Yehya Al Gamal, a campaigner against the deal, said: "Exporting this energy only strengthens their military machine. And it participates in suppressing the Palestinian people.

"It's not about the price of gas, it's whether we should expeort it to them in the first place."

Egypt has become the sixth largest exporter of gas in the world.

 Source: Al Jazeera
Feedback Number of comments : 9
 
oms
Barbados
07/10/2008
yehya al gamal is correct

Aaron
Canada
07/10/2008
Export deal
While there is little doubt that this lawyer will likely be arrested/kidnapped and possibly killed for opposing powerful government financial interests, it is essential that the world hear this case and support him. the egyptian economy is collapsing rapidly,and the only thing keeping mubaraks regime afloat is his dominance over the egyptian security apparatus (which, in many ways is funded by the US according to their pro-israel stance) let us hope we hear more of this case.

john saah
United States
08/10/2008
egypt natural gas
The corrupt traitor Mubarak has sunk down to the lowest level of humanity! Instead of selling natural gas at a 90% discount to Apartheid Israel, why doesn't he sell it to Europe for the full price and let Israel starve (just as the Israelis let the Palestinians starve). That additional money can help the Egyptian people as well. Mubarak hurts the Arabs in two very fatal ways!

Norberto
Argentina
07/10/2008
If Israel does not comply with Camp David
Israel does not comply with Camp David, takes advantage of it. Israel treats the Arabs worst than South Africa treated the blacks, builds outrageous walls, does not comply with the return of Jerusalen to their owners as stated in Camp David, but it is very keen in the strict attachment to the letter in regards of Egyptian gas ! This step was long overdue.

Rick Ness
Canada
09/10/2008
Israel Sanctions
The US, ever mindful of human rights and fair play, should recommend at the UN that massive sanctions be placed against Israel. And definitely no fuel from Egypt.

all seeing eye
Iraq
10/10/2008
egypt is lucky
They should consider themselves lucky for the chance to become part of the world. A western word that wants to accept muslim countries is scarce. They need to change their attitude.The world is watching you make a fool out of yourselves for for greed.The next thing you know you will be rioting in the streets like animals.Proving to the world again that you are not part of the solution.

Tim Welsh
Afghanistan
12/10/2008
I have no doubt
I have no doubt, we are in fact watching the next world war unfold. I predict that much of the middle east will be destroyed, including all of Israel. This time around the Jews will correctly appear to the world to have brought on their own demise with their Nazi-like treatment of their Palestinian captives, and the arrogance displayed in all their other dealings in the world. I don't wish harm on Israel. In fact, I would like nothing more than peace for them, but it may be too late.

Michael
Israel
13/11/2008
Comments on the response above
Export of gas to Europe is much more expensive than a pipeline supply. The deal with Israel was of good value - at the time it was signed. Yet an improvement is required. Regardless, the previously-soaring prices of energy are coming down, and Israel is drilling at Haifa bay, to ensure more energy sources. The Bible defines the facts, and the Jewish state is where it should be. The Arab World could have settled the refugees problem decades ago using the petro-dollars. Instead it buys weapons.

Malcolm Minino
Belgium
11/11/2008
Egypt / Israeli Peace Accord
The Peace Accord was not only a betrayal of the Palestinians, but a betrayal of all Arab peoples who often find themselves at odds with policies pursued by their governments.

 
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