Egyptian gas flowing again to Israel

[March 16, 2011]  JERUSALEM (AP) -- The flow of Egyptian gas to Israel has resumed after more than a month's halt following an explosion during unrest in Egypt.

The Feb. 5 explosion at a gas terminal in Egypt's Sinai desert disrupted supplies to Israel and Jordan.

Ampal-American Israel Corp. -- a partner in the East Mediterranean Gas Co. that supplies the gas -- said Wednesday supply resumed the previous day. It says initial supplies fall short of contractual quantities but would be increased to reach that level.

Israel has always feared supplies from Egypt could be disrupted by saboteurs or those hostile to the two countries' 1979 peace treaty.

Egypt's natural gas company said the fire was caused by a gas leak, but local officials said a bomb detonated inside the terminal.

Supplies to Jordan also resumed on Tuesday.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.