After Hamas defeated Fatah paramilitaries, the EU backed Mahmoud Abbas' quisling West Bank government. It ignored Gaza's punishing isolation and Oxfam Great Britain's grim warning of the "increasing desperation of Gazans as shortages of fuel, water and food are reported." It failed to denounce Israel and the US for creating the crisis affecting 1.5 million people. It stood allied instead with Washington and the Olmert government and did so ever since. The same is true of the UN. It's hard thinking that's changed, and it'll take more than occasional high-sounding comments from a few officials to prove it.
In the meantime, Israel began reducing fuel supplies on October 28, and Gaza's deputy Petroleum Authority director, Ahmed Ali, said diesel fuel and gasoline deliveries were 30% lower than usual. He then added: "This is a serious warning (and) the people of Gaza....are now in danger. The hospitals, water pumping station and sewage will be affected by the lack of fuel." Israel's Dor Alon energy company confirmed the reduction, and the Defense Ministry said the Sufa crossing used for transporting fuel to Gaza was closed.
On October 25, Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered the phased cutoff, and his deputy, Matan Vilnai, said "We will dramatically reduce the flow of electricity (by about two-thirds) from Israel over several weeks" to let Gaza supply its own electricity that's impossible as Israel knows. He added this measure is part of Israel's "deeper, broader disengagement." He neglected to say it's an illegal act of collective punishment as Gaza relies on Israel for all its fuel (that includes diesel, gasoline and natural gas) and most of its electricity.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights reported Gaza needs over 220 megawatts of electricity and consumes about 200 megawatts, 60% of which is bought from Israel. The Gaza Electricity Generation Plant supplies 65 megawatts and another 17 megawatts are bought from Egypt. When Israel directly controlled the Strip, it let Gazans establish enough electrical capacity for only 38% of their needs. Then during "Operation Summer Rain" in June, 2006, the IDF assaulted the Territory, bombed its only electrical power plant, and destroyed its main transformers with missiles. Months of rebuilding restored less than two-thirds of its original 100 megawatt capacity and made the area mostly dependent on Israel for supply.
After declaring Gaza a "hostile entity" on September 19, that's now in jeopardy unless Israel reverses its stance and reconsiders other collective punishment measures as well. Currently, its authority allows only nine basic materials to enter the Territory. That hit local markets hard, and most ran out of many items causing sharp price rises up to 500% in some cases. Items banned include some medicines, furniture, electrical appliances, cows and cigarettes while others restricted are fruits, milk and other dairy products.
Then there's the energy plan. It's to begin cutting electricity for 15 minutes, then a half hour with daily increases as long as the punitive measure remains in effect that doesn't apply to hospitals and other "vital installations," Vilnai said. Things are now on hold, however, after Attorney General Menachem Mazuz temporarily halted the electricity cutoff following a "debate" in his office on October 29. He was apparently acting on UN and EU comments as well as his own High Court's order to respond to a petition by 10 human rights organizations in five days to stop this punitive action. Mazuz said Israel had a right to sever economic and commercial ties with Gaza, but its government is responsible for the Territory and more "research" was needed before cutting off electricity. What he meant, of course, is he'll await a High Court ruling and then act.
Haaretz reported on November 3 that "State Prosecution on (November 2) defended the government's decision (to cut fuel and electricity in a letter to the High Court) claiming it is not a form of collective punishment." It said that the decision was appropriate and gave the same tired reasons it often uses to justify its harshest actions. Defense Minister Ehud Barak agreed. In a November 4 Jerusalem meeting with Condoleezza Rice, he assured the Secretary that "The sanctions (won't) cause a humanitarian crisis" without further elaboration.
Israel's infrastructure minister, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, agrees as well and feels these measures are needed and are a final attempt to avoid a military action some observers see coming. Israel's Gaza commander, General Moshe Tamir, already admits to almost nightly incursions into the Territory and practically signaled a planned assault.
Haaretz also reported on October 30 that Israel's Defense Forces (IDF) conducted their largest military drill in the north Galilee region since the 2006 Lebanon war. It ran four days and involved ground, air and naval forces as well as intelligence and S4 units. The paper noted a similar exercise preceded the Lebanon war so it happening now is ominous.
The Jerusalem Post echoed that sentiment on October 31. It quoted Defense Minister Ehud Barak saying a large-scale IDF operation against "Palestinian rocket squads" was drawing near, and "the time is approaching when we'll have to undertake a broad operation in Gaza." The report mentioned Gaza commander Tamir saying Hamas was "building an army" and had smuggled in unprecedented capabilities. Israeli Shin Bet Security Agency chief Yuval Diskin claimed Hamas had accumulated over 112 tons of explosives, and Tamir signaled Israel is prepared to act as a result. The Jerusalem Post earlier quoted IDF Southern Command chief General Yoav Galant saying he's been "pushing for a massive operation for the past year" and now may be close to getting one.
Hamas responded to this growing threat on November 1. It called on all Palestinian resistance factions to declare a high state of alert in anticipation of a large-scale Israeli incursion into the Territory. It issued a statement saying: "Hamas is well-prepared to engage in a battle with the Israeli army, once (Gaza) is invaded, as Hamas is confident of victory, given its strong trust in God."
A major IDF assault may be imminent as Israel continues attacking civilians in Gaza and the West Bank daily. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights report for the last week of October said 15 Palestinians were killed, 29 others wounded, and 78 more arrested. In addition, during the seven day period, IDF forces made 49 hostile incursions into the Territories, and for the past 16 months maintained a devastating siege on the population.
Washington's Upcoming Annapolis Peace Offensive
Middle East observers know what most honest ones will admit. The intermittent, now revived "peace process" is merely pretense head fake. It's more theater than substance or a serious effort to resolve this long-running conflict, and look at the proof:
-- daily IDF incursions, attacks and killings in the Territories;
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