Posted on 12/17/25
| News Source: Arutz-7
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen on Wednesday announced the approval of what they described as the largest natural gas deal in the history of the State of Israel, with a total scope of NIS 112 billion (approximately $35 billion).
Addressing the public, Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "Dear citizens of Israel, today I approved the largest gas deal in Israel's history. The scope of the deal stands at NIS 112 billion. Out of this, NIS 58 billion will go to the state treasury."
Netanyahu detailed the expected timeline of state revenues, emphasizing the long-term impact of the agreement. "Initially, in the first four years, we will receive about half a billion shekels for the state treasury," he said, noting that during this period the companies involved will be making "massive" infrastructure investments, including pipeline expansion.
"Afterward, it begins to rise," the Prime Minister continued, "and within a few years, it reaches NIS 6 billion every year for the state treasury. This money will strengthen education, health, infrastructure, security, and the future of coming generations."
Netanyahu said the agreement involves the American company Chevron together with Israeli partners, and includes the supply of natural gas to Egypt. "I approved the deal after ensuring our security interests and other vital interests, which I will not detail here in full," he said.
According to the Prime Minister, "This deal greatly strengthens Israel's status as a regional energy power and contributes to stability in our region." He added that it would encourage additional investment in gas exploration in Israel’s economic waters. "More gas will be found," Netanyahu said, stressing that "first and foremost, this deal obligates the companies to sell gas at a good price to you, the citizens of Israel."
Netanyahu also referred to past opposition to Israel’s natural gas development. "There were those among us who fiercely opposed taking the gas out of the water," he said. "They said we would destroy the Israeli economy." He added, "Today, it is clear that extracting the gas from the depths of the sea has brought a massive blessing to the State of Israel."
Calling the current agreement a continuation of that policy, Netanyahu said, "The persistence of myself and then-Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, our insistence on extracting the gas, has proven itself beyond all expectations. And I promise you, it will be the same with this deal."