Cairo: Gas deal with Israel 'strictly business'

(JNS) — A landmark natural gas deal with Israel is a “strictly commercial” arrangement with no political dimensions, Egypt said on Thursday.

The Egyptian government reaction, which came the day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the $34 billion, 15-year agreement—the biggest gas sale in Israel’s history—is seen as Cairo’s attempt to shield itself from Arab criticism over the mammoth agreement with the Jewish state.

“The deal is a purely commercial transaction concluded exclusively on the basis of economic and investment considerations and does not involve any political d...