Addressing the Knesset on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the gas framework agreement was the only path to developing Israel’s offshore reservoirs. He said, “We are on the verge of resolving the gas issue. Israel requires several drilling rigs and gas fields to reduce the dependence on a single rig that has already been a target for terrorist attacks.”
The prime minister told his fellow legislators: “The framework is the only course that has a reasonable chance for the development of further rigs. If not for the framework, it is certain there will be no more rigs and then we will face a serious security challenge.”
Addressing the assembled Knesset members’ other concerns, Netanyahu added: “The framework is the only way forward that also allows the development of the fields for financial purposes. We are interested in several reservoirs to significantly increase the size of the revenue for the state meaning hundreds of billions of shekels for education, welfare, health, and for our national needs. Without the framework we will not have them.
“Both from a security standpoint and from a financial standpoint, the framework is vital for the State of Israel. Also, in terms of air pollution, because we would prefer to use gas as a much cleaner energy alternative to the other types we currently have available.”
The prime minister continued: “I must add that all the regulators, all the professionals bar none, have supported and do support the framework. There is some discourse of a political nature which is unfortunately becoming more and more critical of the framework simply because the government proposed it.
“It will not deter us; we make considerations on merit. From a national perspective, the framework is good for the State of Israel.”
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 15, 2015
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