Controversy Over Natural Gas in Israel

Yogev Gardos, head of the budget department at the Israeli Ministry of Finance, indicated in a message seen by Reuters that "Israel needs to quickly consider the quantity of natural gas that should be exported to ensure it retains enough for local consumption." In a letter to the director general of the Ministry of Energy, Gardos stated, "There is an urgent need to study the export policy." He added, "The energy situation in Israel has partially changed since the previous review in 2018, due to the slower-than-expected deployment of renewable energy sources in the country," noting that "exporting excessive quantities may jeopardize Israeli energy security and lead to increased electricity prices." In response, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz tweeted, saying, "Decisions regarding the gas sector take into account public policy considerations, such as Israel's status, and the person making these decisions is me, the minister elected by the people."