The Israel Parliament today began an eight-hour debate on the government’s petroleum exploitation bill which would grant concessions for prospecting and exploitation of Israel oil resources by foreign and local companies. The government, which introduced the long awaited measure last week, has asked for early passage.
Dr. Moshe Sneh, pro-Soviet leader of the left-wing Mapam Party, led off the attack on the legislation, charging that it would “sell out” Israel to the “most dangerous, most ruthless, most aggressive power in the world.” He proposed the establishment of an Israel national oil company with the participation of “patriotic capital.” He specifically asked that foreign capital be barred from the exploitation of Israel’s oil.
At the same time, he advocated the conclusion of a barter deal between Israel and the Soviet Union under which Russia would supply the Israel national oil company with the necessary oil drilling equipment in return for Israeli products. He concluded with the “warning” that when a “democratic regime” is established in Israel it will annul all concessions and “drive out the concessionaires without a penny.”
In response to Dr. Sneh’s suggestion that Israel ask the U.S.S.R. to supply it with oil exploitation equipment. David Hacbhen of the Mapai declared that it was “impracticable” since the Russians would have to buy such equipment from the hard currency countries.
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