Israel Natural Gas Lines Ltd commenced construction on the pipeline earlier this year after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered that work begin on the laying the pipeline to Haifa by the end of January 2010.

The pipeline crosses land owned by the country’s Arabic-speaking Druze community, which is officially recognised as a separate religious entity with its own courts and spiritual leadership.

Mr Gabai will meet with Deputy Minister for Development of the Negec and Galilee Ayob Gara representing the Druze leaders to resolve concerns over compensation.

The Kishon River Gas Pipeline will connect the Haifa Bay area to the country’s existing natural gas infrastructure to alleviate the existing bottleneck of infrastructure and energy as well as the significant air pollution in the Haifa Bay region.