Jordanian MPs fume at Israeli gas deal, nationality law
With hostility toward Israel running high, parliamentary deputies attack the government's plan to sign a 15-year natural gas deal with Israel.
The Jordanian Cabinet sat nervously Nov. 9-10 and listened to scathing attacks by Lower House deputies against the government’s intention to sign a 15-year natural gas deal that would make Israel the kingdom’s main energy supplier.
Outspoken nationalist deputy Abdel Karim al-Dughmi pleaded for the government not to approve the deal. “Slaughter us, but don’t let our enemy have control of our electricity,” he said, while also criticizing “Arab brethren” who export oil and gas but deny them to Jordan. Minister of Energy Mohammad Hamed said that a final agreement had not been signed, and that only a letter of understanding had been reached with an American company, Noble Energy, which is developing Israel’s offshore gas fields.
