The Court: "The Petitioners' Concern Is Not Overcoming the Significant Impairment to the Promotion of a Project That May Be Due to the Issue of the Order" • Today: Further Discussion Against Operation of the Facility

• Whale gas reservoir // Photo: Noble Energy

The Jerusalem District Court, sitting as an administrative court on Thursday, rejected the request for an interim injunction to operate the "whale" gas rig. The court's decision means that the running of the facility can be continued.

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The court decision reads: "As for the balance of comfort, it is understood that the weight of the public health protection interest for which the application was filed should not be dismissed. However, in view of the position of the state's professionals, as allegedly not concealed by the petitioners' experts. The petitioners raised concern , Does not prevail in the circumstances of the significant harm to the promotion of the project that may result from the demand of the requested order, and its implications are far-reaching as claimed by the respondents. In these circumstances, I did not even have to review a document filed in one party by the Respondent. Interim deferred. "

PM Netanyahu and Minister of Energy Steinitz inaugurate the arrival of the lower part of the "Leviathan" gas rig // Photo: GPO

Justice Eli Abarbanel's decision in the matter referred to the concerns of the petitioners and what might happen from the delay in the works. "The terms of the permit permit were set on the basis of the opinions of experts from the government offices concerned, regarding the degree of risk posed by the emissions of gas from the rig and the probable ways of reducing it." The judge added, "According to state representatives, in responding to the request and hearing, the degree of public health risk posed by the emission of toxic gases from the rig is very low, both during the facility's run and operation of the facility. They claim that the conditions stipulated in the permit permit and their preparedness to further reduce the The aforesaid concern. Against this professional position, no opinion was presented by the petitioners. "

Whale gas reservoir // Photo: Albatross

The whale pool partnership welcomed the court's decision to remove the temporary injunction, a move that will allow the partnership to begin the first gas flow from a whale reservoir: "The whale project meets all regulatory requirements set by the Ministry of the Environment, the Department of Energy and other regulatory bodies. We are proud of the state's largest energy and infrastructure project. Israel, which will ensure gas supply for the well-being of Israelis and the region. We will continue to work transparently and collaboratively and are committed to protecting the environment and safety. "

Recall that yesterday, the Jerusalem District Court ordered the whale gas rig to stop running in response to the petition of the local council Zichron Yaacov, Cellul - Environmental Association, Jisr al-Zarqa Local Council, Megiddo Regional Council, Pardes Hanna-Karkur Local Council, Regional Council Hefer Valley.

Today, at 1 p.m., another hearing is expected to be filed against the operation of the Whale Watchers' Home Rig. This hearing will also be held in the Jerusalem District Court, before the Honorable Judge Eli Abarbanel.