“This will contribute to our energy security. And we are building infrastructure fit for renewables — the energy of the future,” Von der Leyen said as the EU is setting up a strategy to replace the Russian supplies.

Israel, Egypt and the European Union signed Wednesday in Cairo a trilateral deal which will enable Israel to export its natural gas to Europe.

The deal was signed  by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Tarek El-Molla and Israeli Minister of National Infrastructures, Energy and Water Resources Karine Elharrar.

“This will contribute to our energy security. And we are building infrastructure fit for renewables — the energy of the future,” Von der Leyen said as the EU is setting up a strategy to replace the Russian supplies.

“With the beginning of this war and the attempt of Russia to blackmail us through energy, by deliberately cutting off the energy supplies, we decided to cut off and to get rid of the dependency on Russian fossil fuels, and to move away from Russia and diversify to trustworthy suppliers,” she said during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in Jerusalem ON uesday night, at the end of her two-day visit to Israel  “It is an outstanding step bringing our energy cooperation to the next level,” she added.

‘’This is a tremendous moment in which little Israel becomes a significant player,” said Israeli Energy Minister Karin Elharrar in a statement.

Some Israeli gas is already sent by pipeline to liquefaction plants on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, from where it is re-exported as liquefied natural gas (LNG).