Israel Ready To Cut Power To 'Hostile' Gaza

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 9-20-2007 | Thomas Harding

[blam]

Israel ready to cut power to 'hostile' Gaza

By Tim Butcher
Last Updated: 2:07am BST 20/09/2007

Israel paved the way for cutting electricity, fuel and other supplies to the Gaza Strip yesterday when it formally declared the region "hostile territory".

Condoleezza Rice and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni

The announcement was seen as a political gesture by Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister. He is under pressure to act robustly against the frequent rocket attacks launched from Gaza into Israel.

But human rights groups accused Israel of threatening collective punishment against Gaza's 1.4 million Palestinian inhabitants.

Last June, Israel bombed Gaza's only power station, plunging much of the area into darkness and leaving Palestinians to endure the summer heat without air conditioning or refrigerators.

Afterwards, Israel denied that this amounted to collective punishment because a "state of conflict" existed with the Palestinian people.

The latest declaration means that Israel reserves the right to sever fuel and power supplies to Gaza - although no date for the onset of any such blockade has been announced.

The decision by Israel's security cabinet created a rare moment of unity between Hamas, the militant Islamist group controlling Gaza, and its secular rival, Fatah. Both condemned the move.

"This oppressive decision will only strengthen the choking embargo," said a statement from Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president. Fatah officials said they would ask America to intervene and persuade Israel to reverse the decision.

But on a visit to Jerusalem yesterday, Condoleezza Rice, the American secretary of state, showed no sign of being ready to consider any such request. Instead, she publicly endorsed Israel's description of Hamas as hostile. "Hamas is indeed a hostile entity. It is a hostile entity to the US as well," she said.

She added that America would not "abandon the innocent Palestinians in Gaza". Her visit was intended to prepare for a Middle East peace conference which America plans to hold in November.

• Pope Benedict XVI refused to see Condoleezza Rice when she requested a meeting in Rome, an Italian newspaper reported yesterday.

Miss Rice had requested an appointment last month, but was told that the Pope was on holiday.

The Vatican has frequently criticised America's policies in the Middle East.

[Dumpster Baby]

Give Johnny the power cord!

[sinanju]

I’m only surprised that Olmert and his crew are able to screw up the courage to do something that decisive.

Guess even a moronic, self-hating wimp might show some unexpected decisiveness when faced with no other option but to fight.

Course if Condi says “Boo!” they may faint.

[GonzoGOP]

Pull the plug, turn off the water, close the ports and let the sewage pile up in the streets.

Siege is the oldest and quite possibly most effective ways toe break an enemies will to continue fighting. Now they can use their smuggling capacity to bring in components for rockets to bombard Israel's cities. With a full blockade in place they will be forced to smuggle in food and basic necessities. Even if, as I suspect, Hamas will let the majority of the people starve, they still have to feed their own troops. Gasoline, water and food are all heavy and bulky commodities and their little tunnels will be maxed out just avoiding starvation. The only people getting three squares are going to be the Hamas big shots.

Then after a few months move in and shoot anyone who doesn't look hungry.

[loreldan]

"Last June, Israel bombed Gaza's only power station, plunging much of the area into darkness and leaving Palestinians to endure the summer heat without air conditioning or refrigerators"

I've never been to Gaza, but I've done my share of time in various 3rd world countries. I'd venture a guess here that almost nobody in the Gaza strip has air conditioning - except, of course, Hamas HQ and some government buildings. Many of them probably don't have refrigerators either.

[Nervous Tick]

>> Then after a few months move in and shoot anyone who doesn’t look hungry.

I like the way you think.

[Publius6961]

But human rights groups accused Israel of threatening collective punishment against Gaza's 1.4 million Palestinian inhabitants.

Human rights groups and 1.4 million "palestinians" can go to hell.

If 1.4 million "palestinians" can't (or won't) prevent the 12 troublemakers among them doing all the attacking, perhaps it is deserved "collective punishment".

Occam's Razor.

[Rick.Donaldson]

Collective punishment is RIGHT. Do it, and the people in the region will shut down their own government.... and then shoot everyone who doesn’t look hungry

[Blennos]

Notice that when one of the Left’s favorite causes is the target, then fighting back invariably becomes “collective punishment”. And don’t you love the quotes around ‘hostile’.