Egypt says major natural gas deal with Israel is ‘purely commercial,’ not ‘political’ |
Egyptian authorities confirmed on Thursday a major deal to import natural gas from Israel, but immediately sought to protect themselves from Arab criticism, saying the agreement had nothing to do with politics and served a strategic interest for the country.
“The deal is a purely commercial transaction concluded exclusively on the basis of economic and investment considerations, and does not involve any political dimensions or understandings whatsoever,” said Diaa Rashwan, the head of Egypt’s State Information Service, a government media office.
“The agreement serves a clear strategic interest for Egypt by strengthening its position as the sole regional hub for gas trading in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Rashwan added in a statement.
Egypt and Israel have had formal ties for decades, but popular opinion in Egypt remains largely critical of cooperation with Israel, and relations have become strained in the wake of the war........