US Energy Chief Cancels Israel Visit Amid Dispute over Gas Deal with Egypt
By AMICHAI STEIN
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright canceled his Israel visit over Eli Cohen’s refusal to approve a $35b gas export deal with Egypt.
US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright on Thursday canceled his planned visit to Israel next week due to concerns over Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen’s refusal to approve a gas export agreement with Egypt.
Cohen is refusing to approve the agreement until Israeli interests are secured and a fair price for the Israeli market is agreed upon.
At the same time, efforts have been made to settle political issues between Israel and Egypt, including over the Gaza Strip.
The Trump administration has recently been exerting significant pressure on Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Cohen, to approve the deal with Egypt, worth approximately $35 billion.
Israeli gas co. announces new pipeline to Egypt worth NIS 2b.
Israel Natural Gas Lines Company (INGL) reached an agreement with the three main gas exporters, the Tamar Partnership, the Leviathan Partnership, and Energean, to develop a new export pipeline to Egypt valued at NIS 2 billion, it said on Saturday.
Tamar gas field
According to the agreement, published by the director of the Natural Gas Authority at the Energy and Infrastructure Ministry, the project will be established with an investment fully funded by the exporters.
Cohen said at the time that natural gas is a strategic asset that strengthens Israel’s economic and diplomatic standing worldwide, particularly in the Middle East.
“The construction of the new line will enable increased exports, thereby strengthening our diplomatic position and the Israeli economy,” he said. “Therefore, my policy as energy minister is to bring international energy giants to invest in Israel and to expand natural gas production for the domestic market and for export.”
Additionally, the Israeli government approved Cairo’s request to allow the entry of Egyptian equipment and personnel to assist as part of the efforts to locate and retrieve remains of slain hostages, an Israeli security official told The Jerusalem Post on Saturday evening.
Meanwhile, the IDF has intercepted several drones attempting to smuggle weapons over the Egyptian border in recent weeks, including on Wednesday.
