Netanyahu Defends Gas Framework in Affidavit

Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu defended the regulatory framework for gas, saying in an affidavit to the high court of justice February 8 that there was no realistic alternative plan to develop Israel's natural gas reserves and that strong measures were needed.

The natural gas regulatory framework which was approved by the government and parliament.

Netanyahu justified his decision to sidestep the anti-trust agency, declaring that "I wouldn’t use my authority under Article 52 of the antitrust law if I had a real alternative that would advance competition better while answering the genuine need for a quick solution to the security problem and advancing Israel's foreign relations."

Netanyahu agreed with critics of the framework that it is not "ideal" but he said it would enable "the quick and critical release of Israel's natural gas industry from long standing freeze.”.

Netanyahu blamed the former chief of the anti-trust authority, David Gilo, for the freeze, saying he reneged on a deal that would have approved the monopoly status of the natural gas companies.

In the affidavit Netanyahu focused on security and foreign relations and on the stability clause, the two issues the judges said in the first hearing that they will focus on.

He said that since the framework's approval Israel’s relations with its neighbours had improved: talks are being held with Cyprus and Greece concerning gas exports, the frozen relationship with Turkey is thawing and there are also talks with Egypt. "My unequivocal stance is that these developments are the results of the gas deal's approval," Netanyahu said.

He described the use of the stability clause as "unconventional... Indeed this is an exceptional use of authority."

Netanyahu is expected to appear in court on February 14 for the second hearing. Netanyahu's affidavit in itself is unusual in the process of the high court hearings. In the affidavit he tried to address a few of the concerns the judges raised in the first hearing, taking advantage of the special permit given to him to submit his affidavit late in the process.

Ya'acov Zalel