Another blast hits Egypt-Israel pipeline

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/191530.html

An Egyptian pipeline carrying natural gas to Israel in the Sinai Peninsula has been hit by yet another attack, causing severe damages and halting the gas flow.

Unknown gunmen have exploded the cooling lines at the gas station in Sheikh Zuwayid region north of Sinai.

Witnesses say they have heard heavy gunfire at the station.

There are no reports of casualties. So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack -- which is the third of its kind in July.

Previous attacks on the pipeline stopped supplies of natural gas to Israel and Jordan.

Egypt supplies 40 percent of Israel's natural gas demand based on a deal reached between Cairo and Tel Aviv after the 1979 peace accord.

The Egyptian opposition groups are also openly against the new gas deals signed between Cairo and Tel Aviv under former dictator Hosni Mubarak in 2005.

The developments come as Mubarak and his former petroleum minister are being investigated for selling artificially cheap gas to Israel.

This comes after chief prosecutor received evidence that Mubarak and Sameh Fahmy had sold natural gas to Israel and several Western countries for artificially low prices.

Fahmy has recently told investigators that he was just carrying out orders from Mubarak.

Egyptians have held several anti-Israeli rallies in Cairo over the past few weeks. Protesters have demanded that the country's military rulers sever all ties with Israel.