Following a talk between opposition chairman MK Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union) and Knesset chairman MK Yuli Edelstein (Likud), Herzog wrote today on his Facebook page that the natural gas agreement should be brought to the Knesset for discussion, instead of the plan being settled in a secret discussion of the political-security cabinet.
"The cabinet is due to make a fateful decision today on the gas plan," Herzog wrote. "This decision will have consequences for future generations. I reiterate my demand that the Prime Minister bring the gas plan before the Knesset. Decisions on this scale on grave issues in the life of the country have in the past required a Knesset decision; they cannot be made behind closed doors."
Herzog added that he had contacted Edelstein today with "a demand that he should exercise his moral and political authority to make sure that this will happen, because it is first and foremost a matter of the public good."
Edelstein responded by saying that he had expressed his opinion in many forums and that in his opinion, the matter should indeed be brought to the Knesset plenum. He promised Herzog that he would seriously weigh his appeal, and would do what he could to address it.
At the same time, Knesset Economic Committee chairman MK Eitan Cabel (Zionist Union) is demanding that the conclusions be brought before the Economic Affairs Committee for approval.
MK Tzipi Livni also called for a Knesset discussion of the conclusions, saying in a Galei Zahal (Army Radio) interview, "This shouldn't be done in the shadows. I believe in price controls."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 25, 2015
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