US senior official cancels Israel visit after minister delays gas export deal with Cairo

A planned six-day visit to Israel by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has been abruptly cancelled after his Israeli counterpart refused to approve a major gas export agreement recently signed between Jerusalem and Cairo.

The announcement was made by Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen’s office on October 31, Caliber.Az reports, citing Israeli media.

The deal centres on Israel’s Leviathan gas field, which signed the country’s largest-ever export agreement—valued at $35 billion—with Egypt in August this year.

However, Cohen’s office said he will not approve the agreement until “fair prices are agreed upon for the Israeli market,” noting that the Trump administration had applied “significant pressure” on both himself and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to greenlight the deal. 

The US energy company Chevron, which operates the Leviathan field and holds a 40% stake, has also reportedly urged Israel to ratify the export accord.

“Since the negotiations have yet to be completed, Cohen refused to approve the export until the issue is solved,” the minister’s office stated.

According to data from the Joint Organisations Data Initiative, Israeli gas currently supplies 15–20% of Egypt’s total consumption.

Israeli media noted that earlier this year, the Finance Ministry warned the country could face a natural gas shortage within the next 25 years, as domestic energy demand is rising faster than expected while export commitments remain strong — a combination that could eventually push electricity prices higher for consumers.

By Nazrin Sadigova