CAIRO: Opposition groups in Sinai near the station that is pumping gas to Israel are convening next week to begin a campaign against the exportation of gas across the border.
The Tagammu party in North Sinai is organizing a conference on June 4 titled “What’s after the subsidy of Israel? which will include representatives from other opposition groups such as Al-Wafd and civil movements like the Popular Committee for Citizens’ Rights in Sinai.
The idea of protesting at the site of the pumping station is being mooted.
The source of the gas being exported to Israel is a field in Northern Sinai and the pumping station is in the area of Shuluq near Sheikh Zowayed, 10 km from the city of Al-Arish. Another pumping station is located in Damietta.
“We will decide what course of action to take after the conference. The Tagammu might plan a protest at the pumping station, North Sinai Tagammu party member Ashraf Ayoub told Daily News Egypt.
Ayoub was a member of the governorate council in 2005 when the plan to build the pipeline was devised. According to him, they were told that the gas would be exported to Turkey and Jordan, not Israel.
“There were disputes over the land that the government wanted for the pipeline, he said, “They said the gas was headed for Turkey and Jordan as part of a joint project to take the land. They tricked the people and I objected to the project at the time.
“All the development projects in Sinai are implemented for the benefit of Israel, like the cement factory, Ayoub added, “you’re giving Israel gas at a price we in Egypt cannot dream of.
There is a huge objection to the price of the gas being exported to Israel, which is below current world prices because the deal was struck in 2005.
The government has announced that it will renegotiate many of its gas deals, including the Israeli one.
Ayoub’s fellow party member Ashraf El Hefny told Daily News Egypt that the Tagammu party will move against the project with or without the cooperation of any other groups.
“We will move with or without anyone, Hefny said, “we will do all we can do. I personally will do anything possible to stop this gas from going to Israel. This is betrayal and support of our enemies while our own people are not supported. The government has crossed all the lines with this and so no one should blame us if we cross the line.
A campaign against the Israeli gas deal was set up in Cairo and Hefny said he had contacted them to attend the conference in Sinai. Their reply is due in the next few days.
The Cairo campaign itself has set a deadline of June 5 for the government to stop exporting gas to Israel or they will organize protests in many locations including the two pumping stations.
