Terrorists have tried and failed to attack Israel’s gas rigs, says NSC head

"Already during Operation Protection Edge, there were attempts to damage our platform, and luckily, these weapons were not accurate enough and did not succeed in causing harm."

Terrorist organizations have already tried – and failed – to attack Israel’s natural gas infrastructure, Israel’s National Security Council head Yossi Cohen told a Knesset panel on Sunday.

“Already during Operation Protection Edge, there were attempts to damage our platform, and luckily, these weapons were not accurate enough and did not succeed in causing harm,” Cohen said.

While those attempts may have failed, Cohen warned that the “means of fighting possessed by the terror organizations that surround us are more sophisticated and precise and our vulnerability is increasing.”

The NSC head was addressing the Economic Affairs Committee Sunday morning, during the ninth of a series of final advisory discussions that are a prerequisite toward implementing the country’s long-disputed natural gas outline.

Despite receiving government approval in August, fully activating the outline now requires the economy minister to invoke a legal clause to sidestep the Antitrust Authority’s objections – Article 52 of the 1988 Restrictive Trade Practices Law (the Antitrust Law). To do so, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – who because economy minister when Arye Deri resigned from the position in early November – must first consult with the Economic Affairs Committee. Netanyahu can invoke Article 52 by citing national security interests and foreign policy concerns.


http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Terrorists-have-tried-and-failed-to-attack-Israels-gas-rigs-says-NSC-head-436459