Activists call for pressure on Jordanian gov't to rescind Israeli gas deal

The national movement against normalization with Israel called on citizens to place pressure on the Jordanian government to rescind a revert deal it signed to buy gas from Israel.

The movement, which includes activists and members of political parties, called on citizens to switch off bulbs and stop using electricity on Saturday night in a show of protest of the government's move, according to a press statement on its social media website.

The movement said Jordan does not need the gas from Israel, saying the country has many other options it can resort to.

Several protests took place across Jordan after the government announced it reaches an agreement to buy Israeli gas, with the protesters saying the agreement threatens the country's security.

On Sept. 26, Jordan signed an agreement with U.S. Noble Energy, the main control holder of Israel's Leviathan gas field, to import natural gas.

Jordan's state-run National Electric Power Company said the deal will meet 40 percent of the country's gas needs and save about 600 million U.S. dollars every year.

Under the agreement, Noble Energy will provide 15 billion U.S. dollars' worth of gas to Jordan for a period of 15 years, or 300 million cubic feet on a daily basis.

Figures show Jordan imports about 97 percent of its energy needs. Endit