Israel and PA preparing to sign $4 billion gas deal
20 July 2007Bethlehem - Ma'an - Israel and the Palestinian Authority are reportedly in talks over signing the largest mutual economic agreement since the Oslo Accords, the Israeli Maariv daily reported on Friday.
The paper said that the agreement focuses on the supply of Gaza gas to Israel, through British Gas. Natural gas was found off the coast of Gaza in 2000 and BG has been in talks with the PA – specifically the Palestine Investment Fund (PIF) – over drilling the gas and selling it to Israel.
The deal, if signed, would reach some three or four billion US dollars, according to Maariv.
The negotiations are taking place between the political advisors of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the chief PLO negotiator, Saeb Erekat, Maariv reported. The talks are focusing on securing guarantees that the funds of the deal will not reach "terrorist organizations," as defined by Israel.
The paper added that the international Quartet's new envoy to the Middle East, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, might contribute to reaching the signing of this deal.
The paper said that the agreement focuses on the supply of Gaza gas to Israel, through British Gas. Natural gas was found off the coast of Gaza in 2000 and BG has been in talks with the PA – specifically the Palestine Investment Fund (PIF) – over drilling the gas and selling it to Israel.
The deal, if signed, would reach some three or four billion US dollars, according to Maariv.
The negotiations are taking place between the political advisors of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the chief PLO negotiator, Saeb Erekat, Maariv reported. The talks are focusing on securing guarantees that the funds of the deal will not reach "terrorist organizations," as defined by Israel.
The paper added that the international Quartet's new envoy to the Middle East, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, might contribute to reaching the signing of this deal.
posted by HRM Deborah of Israel and the Messenger of Peace at 4:41 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home