JERUSALEM (JTA) — An explosion in an Egyptian natural gas line in the Sinai Peninsula, which cut off supplies to Israel, was the result of terrorism, according to an Egyptian investigation.
Egyptian Judge Abdel Nasser el-Tayeb, the chief investigator of the Feb. 5 explosion, said Monday that four masked gunmen set off explosives in the gas terminal by remote control after restraining the guards, according to testimony by the guards, The Associated Press reported.
The head of Egypt’s natural gas company had said the explosion was caused by a gas leak.
Gas supply also was cut off to Jordan, according to reports.
It will take about a week for the pipeline to be repaired and for the flow of gas to be restored to Israel.
About half of Israel’s electricity comes from natural gas from Egyptian and Israeli sources. Egypt began pumping gas to Israel in 2008 as part of a 15-year contract. Prior to six years ago, all of Israel’s electricity was generated by imported coal and oil, according to The Jerusalem Post
