Herzog wants gas debate moved from cabinet to Knesset

Opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union) asks Knesset speaker Yuli Edelstein (Likud) to transfer the authority to make a decision on the issue of natural gas from the cabinet to the Knesset. Herzog says his request represents all factions of the opposition.

Herzog tells Edelstein the decision is one of historic significance and cannot be made secretly, without transparency and without being preceded by a proper public and parliamentary debate.

The security cabinet, a small top-secret forum of senior ministers, decided earlier today to pass discussions on the natural gas reservoirs to the full cabinet. The decision came after Economy Minister Aryeh Deri refused to approve a draft decision on the issue due to a clause that allowed the deal to progress despite the opposition it faces from Antitrust Authority chief David Gilo.