US legislative bid against limiting nukes

The floor of the US House of Representatives

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/179557.html

US lawmakers have approved a defense bill that limits President Barack Obama's authority in slashing nuclear arsenal and blocks the implementation of a US-Russia arms control treaty.

Despite objections by the Defense Department and Democratic Congressmen, the Republic-controlled Armed Services Committee of the US House of Representatives approved a series of amendments that would limit Obama's authority to reduce the US arsenal of nuclear weapons, AP reported on Thursday.

By a 35-26 vote, the panel passed an amendment that would make the allocation of money for disabling nuclear weapons conditional on the submission of an administration report to congress on the measure.

The other amendment passed by the panel also denies the US president the authority to modify the target list or move nuclear weapons out of Europe until Congress is officially informed.

Last year, the United States and Russia signed an agreement that would reduce the number of deployable nuclear weapons of both countries by one-third.

The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) will cut the number of deployable long-range warheads to 1,550 each, down from the current ceiling of more than 2,000.

Egypt claims price difference from Israel

Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Elarabi

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/173030.html

Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi says the Camp David Accord includes no articles which would oblige his country to sell cheap oil and gas to Israel.

He told an Egyptian TV network that anyone who interprets the accord as such is truly mistaken.

Therefore, the top Egyptian diplomat said, Cairo is to claim the difference of the price charged for the natural gas exported to Israel and the real market rate.

He said former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was Israel's “strategic treasure,” meaning this would not be the case from now on.

Al-arabi also underlined that Iran should not be regarded as a hostile country.

Egypt resumes gas exports to Israel amid public dispute

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/170493.html

Egypt resumed exporting natural gas to Israel after a one-month hiatus due to an explosion, which damaged the pipeline delivering gas to Israel, Jordan and Syria.

For Egyptians the issue of supplying Israel with gas has always been a contentious one.

Ibrahim Yousri a former judge leads a popular campaign against gas exports to Israel and has already won a court case for the terms of the Israeli gas deal.

On Wednesday, Israeli firms confirmed that supplies had resumed but that initial quantities were below normal level. The resumption of gas deliveries was delayed repeatedly due to leaks.

Later, there were conflicting reports about gas deliveries to Israel and according to North Sinai (Syenai) governor, the damaged pipeline had not been fully repaired.

Israel gets around 40% of its gas supply from Egypt at a considerably low price. As such, there is widespread oppossition to the $2.5-billion export deal with Israel, which was signed in 2005.

Most experts think the terms of the deal need to be revised.

Following suggestions by Egyptian officials that the contract may be renegotiated or scrapped altogether, Israel is reportedly considering contingency plans to avoid energy shortfalls.

Despite 1979 peace treaty, most Egyptians view Israel as an enemy and oppose doing any kind of business with it.