Jordanians press case against importing Israeli gas
A confrontation between the Jordanian government and parliament looms after the launch of a trial run pumping Israeli natural gas to Jordan amid vocal public opposition.
AMMAN, Jordan — Jordanian citizens and residents opposed to normalization of ties with Israel have not been shy in making their opinion known when it comes to the prospect of Jordan acquiring natural gas from neighboring Israel. In their most recent effort to be heard, thousands took to the streets of Aqaba, Irbid, Karak and Zarqa, chanting “From north to south, we refuse looted gas,” voicing their rejection of a deal that continues to inch closer and closer to full implementation.
The protests, held Jan. 10, followed the launch of a three-month trial run by the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) to pump gas from Israel's offshore Leviathan field, for which the US-based Noble Energy Company and an Israeli conglomerate hold the concession. NEPCO signed a deal with Noble and the conglomerate to import gas from the Mediterranean in 2016.
