"We have not been concerned about a lawsuit to stop the export of Egyptian gas to Israel, as we got assurances from Egypt that the export of gas will not stop." By this brief sentence, a high-ranking source with the Israeli (Merhav) Group, the Israeli partner in the East Mediterranean Gas Company (EMG), commented on the Supreme Administrative Court's decree on canceling the Administrative Judiciary's decision on stopping the export of gas to Israel after accepting the appeal made by the Egyptian government.
Speaking to the Israeli Yediot Aharonot, the source said Merhav is satisfied with the Supreme Administrative Court's decision, which will stop the controversy aroused by the Egyptian opposition over the deal on the export of Egyptian natural gas to his country.
For their part, the Hebrew newspapers paid much attention to the decision. Globes newspaper described the decision as "a good omen" for the Israeli businessman Yossi Maiman, Israel's partner in EMG. The Israeli paper added, in a report, that the Egyptian government succeeded in the difficult mission and the Israeli partners breathed a sigh of relief after the court's decision. In addition, the Israeli Infrastructure Ministry has expressed satisfaction with the ruling.
"Israel believes that the natural gas deal with Egypt has a tremendous strategic importance. It is essential to revive the Israeli energy sector. The ministry is confident that the political agreement between the Egyptian and Israeli governments will continue in accordance with terms of the Memo of Understanding signed between the two countries in 2005. Therefore, the commercial contracts signed by the Egyptian gas company with the Israeli customers will not be affected," the Israeli ministry said in a statement.
On the Israeli Maariv's economic page, an Israeli official in the field of energy, said the decision reflects the Egyptian government's awareness of its strategic commitment to ensure the sustainability of agreements with Israel with regard to the export of gas.
