“Israeli” Newspapers Roundup: Egypt Enables “Israel” Artificially Low Gas Prices, Mubarak’s Sons Receive Commission for
Haaretz
Report: Mubarak's sons received millions of dollars for backing "Israeli" gas sales
By The Marker and News Agencies
Kuwaiti newspaper Al Jarida reported Sunday that it obtained the documents from the Egyptian interior ministry.
Gamal and Alaa Mubarak, the two sons of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, received hundreds of millions of dollars in "commissions" from the sale of Egyptian natural gas to "Israel", the Kuwaiti newspaper Al Jarida reported yesterday.
Gamal initially demanded a 10% commission but eventually agreed to half of that, while his elder brother and businessman Hussein Salem settled for 2.5% each from the $2.5-billion deal signed in May 2005. Salem, considered to be very close to the Mubarak family, is the largest shareholder in Eastern Mediterranean Gas, the Egyptian firm that supplied the gas to "Israel". Mubarak's sons allegedly backed the controversial gas exports to "Israel" in return for the payments.
Al Jarida said it obtained the documents from a special department at the Egyptian interior ministry that was looking into various activities of the family of the former president, who was toppled in a popular uprising last month. Al Jarida published photocopies of the alleged documents. The paper said negotiations took place involving "Israeli" officials, former Egyptian oil minister Sameh Fahmi and Salem in January 2005.
The deal called for 1.7 billion cubic meters of gas to be sold annually over 15 years by EMG to the "Israel" Electric Corporation. In December 2010, four "Israeli" firms signed 20-year contracts, worth up to $10 billion, with EMG to import Egyptian gas. Gas exports began flowing in February 2008 after the pipeline to "Israel" was completed.
Egypt supplies about 40% of "Israel's" natural gas, which is used to produce about 20% of "Israel's" electricity.
Livni: Netanyahu's peace policy shows an utter lack of leadership
By Barak Ravid and Haaretz Service
Speaking days after the Prime Minister's Office indicated the premier was preparing a new policy speech, the opposition leader says 'a speech cannot replace policy.'
Opposition leader Tzipi Livni dismissed a purported plan by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to launch a new peace initiative, saying on Sunday that the premier's attitude toward peace talks showed an utter lack of leadership.
Livni's remarks came after sources in the Prime Minister's Office said last week that the PM was considering a plan to cooperate with the Palestinians on the establishment of a Palestinian state with temporary borders, as part of an interim peace agreement with the Palestinian Authority that would be implemented immediately.
Netanyahu's decision to consider changing his strategy, which he said in recent consultations with advisers was spurred by the recent anti-government protests in the Arab world, is a step back from his previous statement that he wants to attempt to reach a final-status agreement within a year.
Earlier Sunday, Netanyahu remarked on the standstill in peace efforts, blaming the Palestinian Authority for failing to match "Israel's" willingness to compromise.
Speaking in Mevasseret Zion later Sunday, Livni dismissed Netanyahu's purported peace efforts, saying that the discussion in "Israel" today isn't policy but, "what speech will the prime minister make to be on good terms with America. That is a complete lack of leadership."
"A speech is not real content, and hasbara ["Israeli" public diplomacy] cannot replace policy," Livni said, adding that ""Israel's" standing in the world will not be determined by speaking fluent English at the [U.S.] Congress or on CNN."
The Kadima chairperson also said that the lack of serious discussion regarding "Israel's" peace efforts was causing the premier to center on what to say to remain on good terms with both [U.S. President Barack] Obama and [Foreign Minister Avigdor] Lieberman, without any sense of doing the right thing for this people."
"It is possible," Livni said, to "bring the world on board with "Israel's" interests, which is something that has happened in the past."
"The most right-wing government is begging today to enter negotiations on terms significantly less favorable than those we faced when we ran peace talks with the blessing of the entire world," Livni added.
Livni's comments came after last week, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas rejected Netanyahu's initiative, saying he would not accept an "Israeli" peace plan if it called for temporary borders for a future Palestinian state.
"The Palestinian position is the establishment of a state on all the territory occupied in 1967. That is the consensus position in keeping with decisions by the Arab League and the international community," Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudaineh told reporters in Ramallah.
"Israeli" institutionals may have to write off EMG
By Noam Bar, Ram Ozeri
Investors concerned they will need to write off big investments in Egyptian company that supplied natural gas to "Israel".
"Israeli" institutional investors are worried they will have to write off their big investments in the Egyptian company that supplied natural gas to "Israel". Eastern Mediterranean Gas is expected to make an official announcement about its plans in coming days, but investors say they have no real information about what has been going on in the company since the gas pipeline to "Israel" was shut down February 5.
One senior investment manager with holdings in EMG said yesterday he was receiving his information from the media, and if Egyptian gas exports did not resume within a few months his insurance company would have to completely write off its investment in EMG.
Since the pipeline was attacked a month ago, exports have stopped. EMG has postponed its reopening four times so far, and last weekend the company admitted the decision not to reinstate its exports to "Israel" was political. EMG asked the U.S. government for help in restoring gas supplies.
Another institutional investor was more optimistic. He said that as long as Syria and Jordan were also not receiving Egyptian gas, the problem was only technical and geopolitical. "I understand the gas has not been renewed even to Sinai," he noted.
In addition, the amounts of natural gas involved are not significant, said the investment manager. And even if the supply is halted for half a year, the pipeline still exists and the investment is still worth something. Plus there are legal steps that can be taken if the Egyptians do not keep the agreement, he added.
"Israeli" institutional investors who have put money into EMG include Harel Insurance, with 1.2% of the company and an investment of $27 million; Menorah, with 1% of the firm for $21 million; Clal with 0.6% and $13 million; Psagot, at 0.5% and $11 million; and the Phoenix, with 0.4% and $8 million invested.
Former Egyptian oil minister probed over gas sales
By Avi Bar-Eli
Former Egyptian petroleum minister Sameh Fahmi allegedly enabled "Israel" and six countries in Europe to buy gas at artificially low prices.
Former Egyptian petroleum Minister Sameh Fahmi was called in for questioning by the country's state security prosecution over Egypt's gas exports to "Israel", the Egyptian daily Al Masry Al Youm reported last week.
Fahmi allegedly enabled "Israel" and six countries in Europe to buy gas at artificially low prices, reported the paper. This caused the country losses of 3 billion Egyptian pounds over five years, which is more than half a billion dollars, it stated.
Fahmi reportedly stated in his defense that he was following the orders of ousted President Hosni Mubarak.
Egypt has an agreement with "Israel" guaranteeing to sell it 7 billion cubic meters of gas a year, or 45% of the gas used by the "Israel" Electric Corporation. However, these gas sales have drawn loud opposition in Egypt over the past year. Egypt shut its gas pipeline a month ago due to an explosion, and suspicions abound that it isn't resuming its gas supply for political reasons, not technical ones.
Ron Prosor named "Israel's" new ambassador to the UN
Ron Prosor is a former director of "Israel's" Foreign Ministry and he also has held diplomatic positions in London, Bonn and Washington.
An "Israeli" veteran diplomat who has held senior positions in Europe and Washington has been appointed "Israel's" ambassador to the United Nations.
Ron Prosor is currently "Israel's" ambassador to Britain.
He takes over at a time when Mideast regimes are in turmoil and the international community is pressuring "Israel" to take bold moves to revive peacemaking with the Palestinians.
The Palestinians have been trying unilaterally to rally support for their cause at the UN.
Many countries in recent months have upgraded Palestinian missions to full-fledged embassies, and some countries have recognized a Palestinian state based on pre-Six Day War borders.
Prosor is a former director of "Israel's" Foreign Ministry. He also has held diplomatic positions in London, Bonn and Washington.
The appointment was announced Sunday.
The U.N. mission has had an acting ambassador, Meron Reuben, since its last envoy, Gabriela Shalev, left last summer.
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Y.net News
Report: Gaddafi offered resignation for security
Al-Sharq al-Awsat reports Libyan leader wants rebels to drop demands to try him in international court, guarantee his security as well as that of his family and funds in exchange for his departure from country
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi will resign and leave the country on condition that he and his family receive guarantees they will not be harmed, the London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat reported Monday. No official confirmation has been given.
The report cites "reliable" Libyan sources in Benghazi as saying that Gaddafi vowed to announce his resignation and the transfer of authority to rebels in Benghazi before his parliament if his security, his family's security, and his funds are preserved.
Gaddafi also wants rebels to help him leave the country for the destination of his choice, and to relinquish their demand to try him in international courts for crimes against humanity, the report says.
The sources added that preparations for Gaddafi's departure had already begun, among them the spreading of a rumor that he had had a stroke.
"There has so far been no official response to Gaddafi's proposal, negative or positive," the paper was told. However, the sources hinted that rebels would not consider any negotiations with the Libyan leader.
Meanwhile, Gaddafi told France 24 in an interview that Paris and al-Qaeda were becoming involved in his country's internal affairs.
He added that "armed extremists" were plotting against his regime. "Al-Qaeda has a plan," he said. "I think it is trying to take advantage of the situation in Tunisia and Egypt, in which hundreds of people were killed on the sides of the police and the rebels."
Gaddafi also included himself in the "fight against terror" conducted by the West. "The ones holding weapons in Benghazi are al-Qaeda men without political or financial demands. If the terrorists achieve victory, they will not support democracy," he said.
