(ANSA-AP) - JERUSALEM, 31 DEC - Israel on Tuesday began preliminary pumping of gas from a lucrative field in the Mediterranean Sea to its coastline rig, just days before it is to sign a major pipeline deal with Greece and Cyprus. The start of the so-called "flushing process" took place after repeated delays due to legal challenges from wary Israeli residents who remain skeptical of the grandiose project that Israel vows will wean it off coal and revolutionize the economy by turning the country from an energy importer to an unlikely exporter. Israel's focus on its newfound gas reserves over the past decade has faced stiff domestic criticism from environmental and social welfare activists. Aside from the economic benefits, the promise of gas appears to have helped Israel grow closer to Arab governments and other Mediterranean countries. The leaders of Cyprus, Greece and Israel plan to sign an agreement on Thursday for the building of the eastern Mediterranean natural gas pipeline, which will run across the Mediterranean from Israel's Levantine Basin offshore gas reserves to the Greek island of Crete and the Greek mainland, and then to Italy. The EastMed pipeline is expected to satisfy about 10% of the European Union's natural gas needs, decreasing energy dependence on Russia. (ANSA-AP).