Finally signing: Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected tomorrow (Thursday) to sign the approval of the gas plan, which was the subject of discussion in various committees, led to the resignation of Antitrust Commissioner David Gilo, and also encountered quite a bit of opposition in the Knesset and the public.
According to the plan, tomorrow at 12:00, the Prime Minister will arrive at the Neot Hovav Eco-Industrial Park to sign the gas outline, together with Energy and Water Minister Yuval Steinitz, and after apparently making brief remarks, he will sign the big deal.
In doing so, the Prime Minister will activate Section 52, which allows him to bypass the Antitrust Commissioner and approve the outline by virtue of his role as Minister of Economy.
On Tuesday, members of the Knesset's Economics Committee, headed by MK Eitan Cabel, voted by a majority of 7 to 6 against the outline between the state and the gas companies, and determined that there is no justification for activating Section 52, which bypasses the Antitrust Commissioner.
During the committee meeting, Chairman Eitan Cabel recommended to his members to vote against Section 52 and submitted the following text for the committee's approval: "After 12 meetings of the committee, in the circumstances that have emerged, there is no room for the use of Section 52" – the section that bypasses the Antitrust Commissioner. At the end of the meeting, seven Knesset members voted in favor of Cabel's proposal and six against.
Chairman Cabel's proposal was supported by, in addition to him, MKs Ayelet Nachmias and Rabin and Yossi Yona from the Zionist Camp, Dov Hanin and Abdel Hakim Haj Yahya, Haim Yellin from Mish Atid and Issawi Frij from Meretz.
Knesset members who opposed Cabel's proposal: Miki Zohar, Yoav Kish and Nurit Koren from Likud, Yoav Ben-Tzur from Shas, Uri Maklev from United Torah Judaism and Roy Folkman from Kulanu.
It is doubtful whether the High Court will intervene.
Netanyahu, who appeared before the committee last week in his hat as Minister of Economy, was obligated to hold a consultation process with the committee, but is not obligated to listen to its recommendation – and he is still expected to approve the outline.
Opponents of the plan are expected to petition the High Court as a last resort against its approval, although it is doubtful whether the High Court will choose to intervene.
Cabel asked to add a clause to the committee's decision - which was controversial - according to which, from Netanyahu's and Steinitz's statements in the discussion, it appeared that the decisions were made in advance, and the consultation process was merely formal.
""I wish I could say that this consultation created a dramatic change in the process," Cabel said during the hearing.
MK Yachimovitz also attacked: "I got the impression that the prime minister was not familiar with the details of the outline or the details of Section 52. The committee's position has very deep professional parliamentary weight. Even though it is only a duty to consult, due to the nature and depth of the discussion, the opinion cannot be canceled.".
Join the Haredim 10 Facebook page >>
Join the X page of Haredim 10 >>
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
