Middle East waits for gas to flow

JERUSALEM, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Natural gas shipments from Egypt to Israel should be back online by the end of the week, though deliveries further upstream could take a while, an official said.

An explosion in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula struck part of a natural gas pipeline network at a junction to Jordan and Israel last weekend. Sabotage was blamed for the explosion, though the Egyptian government said it was caused by a gas leak.

Israeli energy officials told the Platts news service on condition of anonymity that gas shipments could resume later this week. If engineers needed to install a bypass to get around the damaged section, however, it could take several more days for gas supplies to get upstream.

Officials said consumers further upstream in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon may have to wait longer for gas supplies to resume because of complications at the junction in Egypt.

Egyptian protesters have entered their third week an anti-government demonstrations. Protests last week turned violence, though the Egyptian military was able to restore order by Friday.