Egypt has begun exporting gas to Israel through an underwater pipeline from El Arish to Ashkelon, but the move is liable to set off fierce anger among the Muslim opposition. The flow of gas comes three years after a deal was signed. The flow began last week, but technical problems have delayed the gas from being integrated into the Israeli network, according to the French news agency AFP.

The gas is being pumped from reserves in the northern Sinai Peninsula, which Israel surrendered in a 1979 peace accord with Egypt. The government of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has not reported on progress in building the pipeline in order to dampen criticism from the growing Muslim Brotherhood opposition party.