Israel joins “Regional Energy Forum”

The end of the controversy: Following the publication in “Israel Today”, Minister of Environmental Protection Gila Gamliel withdrew her opposition, and Israel will join the “Regional Energy Forum”. The forum, of which Israel was one of the founders, includes Egypt, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority. It was established on the joint initiative of the Israeli Minister of Energy, Dr. Yuval Steinitz, and his Egyptian counterpart, Tarek El Molla.

According to Gamliel, Steinitz pledged to demand at the first meeting of the Middle East Gas Forum that the forum constitution establish a commitment of forum members to reduce pollution, reduce emissions and protect the marine environment, and to declare at the cabinet meeting its commitment to protecting Israel’s environmental interests. The Steinitz bureau said: “Dr. Steinitz does not need Gamliel to promote green energy.”

It will be recalled that Steinitz attacked Gamliel about a week ago due to her reservations about approving the move. “I see no logical reason to deprive Israeli citizens of the right to enjoy natural gas resources,” he wrote at the time.
Tamar drilling rig // Photo: Albatross

Gamliel then justified the opposition, saying: “The use of natural gas has a critical impact on greenhouse gas emissions and the climate crisis, and without significant action in this area it will not be possible to deal with the crisis. Israel is completely different. “

Now, after the Minister withdrew her statement today, she responded: “I am glad that the Ministry of Energy understood that the State of Israel’s commitment to switching to renewable energy must also be reflected in the Middle East Gas Forum. We must not allow the promotion of gas use.” The climate. ”

Minister Steinitz welcomed the final approval of the Mediterranean Gas Forum Convention. However, he teased Gamliel, saying: “It is puzzling that in no European and Middle Eastern country is the forum member required to convey the obvious, and no one has tried to take advantage of the matter for media exposure.”

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