Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rebuffed the arguments against the natural gas monopoly, calling them demagoguery. He undertook to push the compromise arrangement for the gas industry quickly, in advance of the cabinet meeting discussion on the matter.
"I'm determined to bring gas to the Israeli economy; that will lower the price of electricity," Netanyahu said today at the cabinet meeting. "We won't fall into the same trap that many countries did when they quarreled interminably about the matter, while the gas stayed under the ground. That won't happen here. We have been delayed for years, and it's possible to miss the bus - but that won't happen."
Netanyahu continued, "We have to make decisions, even in the face of demagogic attacks - they don't move me. I've brought enough reforms to the Israeli economy that were demagogically attacked, and whose value has now been proven. Israel has passed many European countries in per capita GDP, standard of living, and a lot of other things. That's how it will be with the gas.
"Any delay in making a decision will jeopardize our ability to benefit from this natural resource; I'm determined to push a practical solution forward. The plan we're bringing ensures a competitive price and prevents price gouging. The private companies should know that we won't compromise on all the rights due to the state from its natural resources. This is a correct balance, it's a necessary balance, and it’s the balance that we'll carry out as quickly as possible."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 14, 2015
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2015