The disclosure of the details of the agreement between the Likud and United Torah Judaism party (UTJ), in which it was revealed that the ultra-orthodox party demanded to stop electricity production on the Sabbath, has been concerning many Israelis. Nevertheless, both Likud MK members and officials from The Israel Electric Corporation (IEC), including the CEO, called out the UTJ’s demands, claiming, among other things that it was not plausible.
Meir Spiegler, CEO of IEC, the sole electricity producer in Israel, spoke on a radio show earlier this morning of the UTJ’s desires and how financially out of touch they may be. "These systems are not absolute, not ideal, they have faults and flaws, and someone always has to keep an eye open, because if there is a failure, someone has to fix it. Someone always needs to supervise 24/7 - even on Shabbat."
Would these chauvinist neanderthals also want us to stone adulterers and #LGBTQ?
— Emily Schrader - אמילי שריידר امیلی شریدر (@emilykschrader) December 14, 2022
This type of absurdity is what happens when you have too much religion in government. https://t.co/Myjyuvgk8i
Spiegler further noted "If these reports were true that no one will work on those days and the electricity will continue to flow, this thing is clearly impossible. It cannot be done, these are huge systems. There is no such possibility. In my humble opinion, they [the UTJ] are not at all oblivious to reality and understand that in any system, no matter what, someone has to monitor its activity and that if there are failures, a response must happen immediately."
Referring to the financial aspect of executing such a complex idea, the CEO added: "The costs are enormous. In order to provide electricity by storing energy in containing facilities for one average family unit for 24 consecutive hours, it would cost 50,000 Shekels. By the way, these batteries, that store electricity, rely mainly on a mineral called Lithium, which is a material that is both toxic and polluting.
It is absolutely true that UTJ demanded a change to electricity production on Shabbat. The denial by Likud is in the first paragraph and the tweet. Your call for government censorship is deeply disturbing, and as a self-described journalist, could come to haunt you one day. https://t.co/Yr6OZAB7Ws
— Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) December 13, 2022
“There are many environmental considerations when speaking of such a project as Israel’s electricity. We need to ensure it causes minimal damage to the quality of the environment - that must be taken into account."
When asked if any government or political body has contacted him regarding stopping production on Sabbath, Spiegler replied: "No. If they were to consulate me, I would say exactly all these things.” Benjamin Netanyahu has been rather absent from media appearances in recent weeks. However, when Tuesday in the Knesset asked if a Jewish law-governed state (Halacha) was coming, he was heard replying: “No”.
