Netanyahu faces uphill battle to secure majority in gas deal vote
- 9 years ago
the Knesset on Monday was set to vote on a controversial reform of Israel’s natural gas sector, but by Sunday night Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not appear to have clinched a parliamentary majority to approve the plan.
As part of the special session called during the summer recess, the Knesset was slated to vote on whether to transfer the monopoly-approving authority of Economy Minister Aryeh Deri — who has refused to exercise his ministerial power to fast-track the new gas deal with energy companies — to the cabinet.
Netanyahu, whose razor-thin coalition of just 61 MKs already struggles to maintain a majority.
The deal has been controversial, with critics, including former antitrust commissioner David Gilo, expressing concern that the deal created a de facto monopoly that would lead to high gas prices for Israelis.
Netanyahu has championed the controversial deal, saying it would pump billions of shekels into the economy.
As part of the special session called during the summer recess, the Knesset was slated to vote on whether to transfer the monopoly-approving authority of Economy Minister Aryeh Deri — who has refused to exercise his ministerial power to fast-track the new gas deal with energy companies — to the cabinet.
Netanyahu, whose razor-thin coalition of just 61 MKs already struggles to maintain a majority.
The deal has been controversial, with critics, including former antitrust commissioner David Gilo, expressing concern that the deal created a de facto monopoly that would lead to high gas prices for Israelis.
Netanyahu has championed the controversial deal, saying it would pump billions of shekels into the economy.