Conflicting Reports on Gaza Power Cuts
CBNNews.com
October 28, 2007
CBNNews.com - GAZA STRIP - Sunday saw a partial implementation of Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak's announcement Thursday to reduce electricity and fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip to counter Kassam rocket attacks on southern Israeli communities.
On Sunday, Dor Alon, the Israeli company that provides fuel to Gaza, confirmed orders from the Defense Ministry to reduce the normal allocation of fuel to Gaza.
The reduction follows remarks Saturday by Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilna'i on Israel Radio that the government would implement the planned reduction once it received final approval from the court.
To raise public outcry against Hamas for the Kassam rocket attacks launched from Gaza, the plan is to cut electricity to the Strip for 15 minutes following each rocket attack.
Vilna'i said that while the brief power outages may not halt the daily barrage of rockets, weaning the Gaza Strip from its dependence on Israel, a process that began with the August 2005 pullout from Gaza, is also part of the plan.
Guarding Against a Humanitarian Crisis
At Friday's meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Olmert assured the PA chairman that Israel would not allow the planned reductions in electricity and fuel to cause a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
Olmert said Israel needed to find a way to stem the ongoing rocket attacks on the western Negev, and an estimated two hours of daily power outages would not bring about a humanitarian crisis for Gaza residents.
On Sunday, after the Defense Ministry announced that Israel closed the Sufa border crossing into Gaza, used for fuel transport, government spokeswoman Miri Eisin reiterated that Israel would not allow a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
"The terrorists are bombarding the crossing points of the fuels," Eisen said, "and we do not feel the need to supply the terrorists."
But Olmert's pledge did not prevent Ahmed Ali, deputy director of Gaza's Petroleum Authority, from declaring that Israel's implementation of fuel reductions would jeopardize civilian life.
"This is a serious warning to the people of the Gaza Strip. Their lives are now in danger," Ali said, adding that it would take a few days for Gazans to feel the crunch of reduced fuel supplies.
While Ahmed Ali announced "dramatic reductions" in fuel shipments -- 40-50 percent in diesel fuel and a 12 percent reduction in fuel to the power station -- a senior European Union official said the Gaza Power plant received its full fuel allotment Sunday.
"The plant received the full amount for today. It was delivered," he said.
The EU pays for the fuel to the power plant and oversees its delivery.
Sources: The Jerusalem Post, YNet news service, Haaretz
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