From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Knesset panel refuses to extend secrecy for state-owned oil conglomerate for 5 years, agrees to 1
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSue Surkes is The Times of Israel's environment reporter
The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee refuses to approve a cabinet request to extend secrecy regulations for a controversial state-owned oil infrastructure conglomerate for another five years, agreeing to a one-year extension only.
On Monday, Ze’ev Elkin (New Hope) and Yesh Atid’s Meir Cohen and Orna Barbivai spoke against the five-year request for the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company, prompting the committee to set up a subcommittee to meet today to hold further discussions behind closed doors.
That subcommittee approved an extension of the regulations for one year.
The decision represents a victory for environmental and civil society groups and individuals who submitted more than 300 objections to a draft proposal for the five-year extension.
According to a Justice Ministry document presented to the cabinet earlier this month, opponents noted the EAPC’s poor pollution record and charged that the confidentiality was too wide and all-encompassing, and did not allow any oversight of the companies’ activities.
They also quoted officials from the EAPC and the Government Companies Authority who favored lifting the secrecy requirement.
The Times of Israel Community.