Business in Brief

That's a good question without a good answer. In August 2009, the Walla! Hebrew-language Web site reported on a study that claimed electromagnetic radiation emission from hybrid cars exceeds safe levels as recommended by the Environmental Protection Ministry. The radiation comes from the intense electric charge traveling from the battery in the car's rear to the engine in front. Importers assailed the study, but in December 2009 experts agreed that the cars generate hazardous levels of radiation. Their report was not made public, but sent to Toyota and Honda importers for their comment. Off the record, the importers claim the ministry inspectors are unprofessional. The ministry says it is still collecting responses and will formulate an opinion in February. (Daniel Schmil)

Apropos cars and the environment, in two years Israelis will be able to drive cars fueled by natural gas instead of gasoline, industry sources estimate. This week the National Infrastructure Ministry published draft regulations for the transport, storage and sale of natural gas for cars. Companies interested in transporting or marketing the gas have until February 10 to submit proposals. TheMarker has learned that Gas Pro, a company which converts car engines from gasoline to gas, recently imported several conversion systems for testing. Note that natural gas is most suited to commercial vehicles, as the containers holding the fuel are big. (Daniel Schmil)

The Tel Aviv labor tribunal has barred the HOT cable TV company from firing technician Yoni Mandel, who is also leading an effort by HOT employees to establish a labor union. HOT first tried to fire him two months ago, calling him incompetent. Mandel's lawyer claims he was fired because of labor activism. Although Mandel was unable to disprove HOT's complaints about his work, some of which had been raised long before the move to unionize HOT workers, the judge accepted his motion and issued the stay because is dismissal occurred in the midst of unionization efforts which Mandel is leading. (Ido Solomon)

A month after the court system stenographers went on strike, the clerical echelon's turn arrived yesterday. Court clerks and secretaries at all levels, including at the Supreme Court, began a strike - unlimited in time - with the support of the Histadrut labor federation. From yesterday it has been impossible to open new court files or submit requests for legal remedies. The clerks claim that the courts management reduced their pay, and are demanding that more manpower be hired to help with the heavy workload. The courts management said that trials took place as usual yesterday. (Haim Bior)

Seeking to strengthen his hold in the private electricity production industry, Yitzhak Tsuva's company Delek Infrastructures is negotiating to buy a 25% stake in the power station planned by Dalia Energies, for $20 million. The station t is owned by the United Kibbutz Movement (40%), Hiram Epsilon (40%) and the Israel Infrastructure Fund (20%). The owners have an agreement last month with the Tamar natural gas partnership, of which the Delek Group owns 31%, to buy gas for a period of 17 years, at a cost of about $1 billion. (Avi Bar-Eli)

The Israeli government's debt grew by 8.9% in 2009 to NIS 596 billion, compared with NIS 547 billion the year before, less than the treasury had feared. The increase is NIS 49 billion. One result was the raising of the debt-GDP ratio by 3% to 78% at the end of last year. Plus debts of local government, which is the way most countries measure this parameter, Israel's debt-GDP ratio was between 79% to 80% in 2009. (Moti Bassok)