Special to WorldTribune.com

TEL AVIV — Egypt, in a move demanded by the Muslim Brotherhood, has
terminated its natural gas supply agreement with Israel.

An Israeli company that receives gas from Egypt said the Cairo
government canceled the agreement to supply gas to the Jewish state.

Ampal-American Israel Corp., with a 12.5 percent interest in the East
Mediterranean Gas Co., said the state-owned Egyptian General Petroleum Corp. and Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Co. were ending the gas supply and purchase agreement, which until 2011 supplied about 40 percent of Israel’s gas requirements.

“EMG considers the termination attempt unlawful and in bad faith, and consequently demanded its withdrawal,” Ampal said on April 22.

The termination of the agreement was demanded by the Brotherhood since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak in February 2011.

Since the fall of the regime, the Arab Gas Pipeline, meant to transport gas to Israel and Jordan, has been bombed at least 13 times as Cairo sought a four-fold increase in the price of gas.

In October 2011, EMG demanded compensation for Egypt’s failure to
supply gas to Israel. Ampal and other shareholders in EMG have also been
preparing to submit claims against the Egyptian government to protect their
investments.

  Ampal-American Israel Corp., Arab Gas Pipeline bombed 13 times, East Mediterranean Gas Co., Egypt kills natural gas deal with Israel at Muslim Brotherhood’s demand, Egyptian General Petroleum Corp.