The government on Sunday approved the framework deal regulating the development of Israel's natural gas industry by a vote of 17-1. The deal will be presented for the Knesset's approval in September. Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon (Kulanu), Welfare and Social Services Minister Haim Katz (Likud), and Construction Minister Yoav Gallant (Kulanu) abstained from the vote due to conflict of interests, while Environmental Protection Minister Avi Gabai (Kulanu) voted against the deal. Speaking at the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "Today, the cabinet will pass a historic decision, no less. This decision will give Israel's citizens, will put into the state coffers, hundreds of billions of shekels. "This money will benefit education, health, social welfare and other national needs. I would like to commend the work done by [Energy] Minister [Yuval] Steinitz's team, which has led to a very significant reduction in the price the state will pay for gas, and to other changes that will greatly improve the outline. I would like us to pass the decision by a large majority, and rightly so." The vote, the prime minister said, "is an important milestone. We are overcoming the obstacles step by step. This process will not be stopped. The gas will be extracted from the bottom of the sea and will reach Israeli citizens, Israeli industry and the Israeli economy -- for the benefit of the citizens of Israel. "This outline will pass one way or another, and it is about time that it does. The true interests of the State of Israel require the passage of this outline as quickly as possible." Steinitz noted that "after years of regulatory stagnation and delays that cost the country billions and undermined our energy security, I am convinced that the current framework is the best thing for Israel and its citizens." Gabai said, "I think this framework is riddled with flaws and that it undermines Israel's energy security." The opposition criticized the approval of the outline, as did several environmental groups. Opposition Leader Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union) hinted in a Facebook post that the opposition would spare no effort to vote the deal down in the Knesset, writing, "Any government decision on the gas deal is a signature on ice." Knesset's Economics Committee head MK Eitan Cabel (Zionist Union) said, "Every minister who voted in favor of the deal should know his actions are unforgiveable and unredeemable." Fellow Zionist Union MK Mickey Rosenthal said the deal "promotes the formation of the biggest financial threat to Israeli democracy," while Meretz leader Zehava Galon called the framework "a disgrace." During the cabinet meeting, several environmental groups staged a protest rally outside the government plaza in Jerusalem, during which two protesters were arrested. Green Course CEO Mor Gilboa said his organization "will continue to fight until [the government] comes up with fair and sustainable policies" for the natural gas industry.
