Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., October 31, 2007 Cheshvan 19, 5768 | | Israel Time: 18:43 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Print Edition
Diplomacy
Defense Arts & Leisure Real Estate Jewish World National Advertising
Magazine Week's End Business Opinion Rosner's Domain Anglo File Books Travel
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. (GPO)
del.icio.us
Digg It!  new
Last update - 20:24 27/10/2007
Vilnai: Gaza power cut not meant as punitive measure
By Aluf Benn and Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondents

Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai told Israel Radio on Saturday that the government's decision to periodically cut the flow of electricity to the Gaza Strip is another step in Israel's disengaging from responsibility for the area, and is not part of a policy of collective punishment.

Vilnai said he does not expect the latest sanctions to halt the continuing rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, and added that the limits placed on fuel and electricity supplies will be implemented either Sunday or Monday. The decision is pending legal approval.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert promised Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas that Israel would not cut off power to hospitals or cause a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, despite the limited power cuts.
Advertisement
Olmert made the pledge over a working lunch with Abbas at his Jerusalem residence, a government official said, speaking on condition of anonymity as the meeting was closed to media coverage.

Officials said the meeting was positive and took place in high spirits. The heads of the negotiating teams of the two sides, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and former PA prime minister Ahmed Qureia, were also present.

Olmert and Abbas also agreed that the joint statement the Israelis and Palestinians are expected to draft ahead of next month's peace conference would include mention of the U.S.-backed road map for peace.

A disagreement had arisen over the past week regarding the future of the role of the road map, with Israel demanding that any future agreement between the two sides should be implemented in accordance with the stages set out by the plan. Livni reiterated the position in a meeting with U.S. National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley on Thursday.

Israel maintains that any progress toward the establishment of a Palestinian state must meet the first requirement of the plan, which requires Palestinian security to undertake continuous and effective operations to counter terrorism in the territories.

The Palestinians have expressed opposition to conditioning peace talks on the implementation of the road map, out of concern this would delay the political process.

Soon after the two met, Ismail Haniyeh, deposed Palestinian Authority premier and head of the Hamas government in Gaza, said the meetings between Abbas and Olmert were aimed at distracting attention from Israel Defense Forces attacks and sanctions against Gaza. He said the Mideast conference would offer nothing to the Palestinians.

"These meetings have become a cover for the continued aggression against the Palestinian people, Haniyeh said after Friday prayers in Gaza City. We warn against the dangers of falling into the traps of American-Israeli policies," Haniyeh said.

Olmert and Abbas agreed at the end of Friday's meeting to meet again when Livni returns from her trip to China at the end of next week.

Olmert, who dined with Hadley Thursday night, briefed him on his meetings earlier during the week with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The talks between the two negotiating teams are focused on the general framework of the settlement, and the core issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - Jerusalem, border and refugees - have still not been discussed.

Members of the Palestinian delegation, headed by Qureia, say the PA has fulfilled the first stage of the road map by reorganizing its leadership and government. They also say Israel has failed to meet its commitments during the first stage, especially in failing to remove West Bank outposts.

For its part, the Israeli side says that the Palestinians have done nothing to meet their security obligations, and that the evacuation of outposts does not have the same degree of urgency as maintaining security and containing terrorism.

Meanwhile, the governor of Nablus, Jamal Muhaisel, said Thursday that in two or three weeks the PA will deploy hundreds of national security forces in the city, as part of efforts by the Palestinian government to check criminal behavior in the city.

Several weeks ago Israel authorized the deployment of policemen to the city, but the PA said it was not yet ready.


Related articles:
  • Livni: Israel will not remove outposts until PA fights terror
  • Rice raises fears two-state solution may be in jeopardy
  • Minister Ayalon calls on PM to invite Hamas to regional summit
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us
    China, Israel diverge
    With Livni in Beijing, China rejects Israel's call for tougher sanctions against Iran.
    Amending aliyah
    Interior Minister Sheetrit says Jews should not be granted automatic Israeli citizenship.
      1.   Palestinians cracked down on terrorists? When?! Where?! 06:01  |  Gili 26/10/07
      2.   One of the gaps 06:58  |  JW 26/10/07
      3.   Olmert/Livni- Stop making excuses 13:31  |  A Bethlehemite 26/10/07
      4.   A famous film - A Bridge Too Far 13:58  |  redmike 26/10/07
      5.   Gap that spans the world 14:07  |  Brod 26/10/07
      6.   #3 – the talks are not serious .. 14:45  |  redmike 26/10/07
      7.   cracking 15:43  |  Space 26/10/07
      8.   OLMERT/LIVNI-STOP MAKING EXCUSES 16:41  |  NO JUSTICE NO PEACE 26/10/07
      9.   redmike and the racist initiative 16:50  |  Omar 26/10/07
      10.   redmike and the racist initiative #2 16:58  |  Omar 26/10/07
      11.   The pesky caveat 17:02  |  Goldberg 26/10/07
      12.   The Occupying Party (Israel) is responsible for the people 18:10  |  International Law 26/10/07
      13.   humanitarian crisis 18:10  |  eddie 26/10/07
      14.   WONDERFUL!!! 18:12  |  ballistic 26/10/07
      15.   To Redmike 18:18  |  Edifice 26/10/07
      16.   omert`s promise 18:22  |  marcel 26/10/07
      17.   High Spirits? 18:34  |  Dovy 26/10/07
      18.   LOLZ @ Olmert / There already IS a CRISIS in GAZA 19:08  |  POP 26/10/07
      19.   Palestinians should make their own electricity with with the BIL 19:27  |  Muhamud 26/10/07
      20.   Palestinians continue with rockets against KORAN 19:29  |  Jafar albinshibh 26/10/07
      21.   Cutting off Tel Aviv ? 19:52  |  Jan Elshout 26/10/07
      22.   olmert vows.... 20:03  |  ljf-canada 26/10/07
      23.   #12 Gaza Occupied?? 20:04  |  ralphsrant1 26/10/07
      24.   To #21 Jan Elshout - Palestinians are dying 20:49  |  Dagma 26/10/07
      25.   To International Law # 12 20:53  |  Dolly 26/10/07
      26.   he said that? 20:54  |  ravi 26/10/07
      27.   Olmert, you do not need to vowe 20:55  |  KUTW 26/10/07
      28.   Olmert, tell Abbas not to cause humanitarian crisis in Israel 20:57  |  KUTW 26/10/07
      29.   12. International Law: Israel is not responsible for the terror 21:00  |  KUTW 26/10/07
      30.   Mr/Mrs International Law 21:03  |  David Israel 26/10/07
      31.   PMO inform Abbas that the power cuts is limited 21:24  |  Joseph E . 26/10/07
      32.   To International Law # 12 - Mistaken! 21:30  |  Dolly 26/10/07
      33.   While Sderot`s burning scoundrel Olmert is appeasing Abbas 21:38  |  Absolute Sweden 26/10/07
      34.   Dolly - Sorry, saying it won`t make it so 21:43  |  International Law 26/10/07
      35.   KUTW 21:45  |  International Law 26/10/07
      36.   David Israel - Oh come on! 21:50  |  International Law 26/10/07
      37.   "make them get thin, not die of starvation" 22:10  |  Naftali Lavie 26/10/07
      38.   Olmert & Livni two fools 22:34  |  * BEN JABO 26/10/07
      39.   today`s Walla website edition " how to read arabic newspapers" 22:34  |  Joseph E . 26/10/07
      40.   Two men from opposite sides shaking hands. 22:41  |  Maureen Ann 26/10/07
      41.   International law - All I wrote are doable this is why Turkey off 22:41  |  David Israel 26/10/07
      42.   The idiot Olmert spouts propaganda to deflect US criticism 22:46  |  Clickfool 26/10/07
      43.   Good golly Ms. Dolly! 23:09  |  Man 26/10/07
      44.   Needed:One "humanitarian crisis" 23:34  |  Joseph 26/10/07
      45.   # 30 - you`re joking, of course 23:38  |  Goldberg 26/10/07
      46.   OLMERT SHOULD VOW TO RESIGN ALREADY 23:49  |  THE WARRIOR 26/10/07
      47.   Goldberg - your reply is out of context 00:40  |  David Isarel 27/10/07
      48.   # 12 International Law 00:53  |  Joseph E . 27/10/07
      49.   gaza 00:54  |  tom 27/10/07
      50.   international law,quit crying,the pals wouldn`t have to be 01:15  |  terrornator 27/10/07
      51.   Cite this so-called international law 02:04  |  PK 27/10/07
      52.   RE # 34 and 35 Calling yourself International 02:44  |  MaryRose 27/10/07
      53.   The Existence of Gaza is a Humanitarian Crises 02:47  |  Efox 27/10/07
      54.   # 51 PK @ NYC 03:05  |  Joseph E . 27/10/07
      55.   "Falling into traps" 03:40  |  Avrum 27/10/07
      56.   #36 International Law. You are wrong! 04:54  |  Vittorio 27/10/07
      57.   Really? What the bloody hell does he think is happening now? 05:48  |  peacelover 27/10/07
      58.   re: International Law 06:31  |  Efox 27/10/07
      59.   let`s wake up 07:14  |  thomas 27/10/07
      60.   the Second Holocot 08:02  |  me 27/10/07
      61.   Incongruous heading... 08:59  |  Esther 27/10/07
      62.   Israel does not control the Gaza Strip and has no way to govern 09:13  |  Ehud Yakir 27/10/07
      63.   me 09:37  |  thomas 27/10/07
      64.   Olmert VOWS - First thing he should do is 09:56  |  Dolly 27/10/07
      65.   Olmert VOWS - The only thing Olmert VOWS 10:04  |  Dolly 27/10/07
      66.   What a great government . . . 10:05  |  Kobi 27/10/07
      67.   #61 Esther - "But there is already a humanitarian crisis there.." 10:17  |  Yonatan 27/10/07
      68.   What a champion 10:22  |  TonyL 27/10/07
      69.   #57 peacelover - Follow photos of Gaza more closely 10:23  |  Yonatan 27/10/07
      70.   #63 thomas - On "holding emotions" 10:30  |  Yonatan 27/10/07
      71.   The Gaza humanitarian crisis 10:50  |  Dav 27/10/07
      72.   For Yonatan #67, also 69,70 11:29  |  Esther 27/10/07
      73.   To Dav # 71 - No Humanitariuan Crisis in Gaza 11:56  |  Dagma 27/10/07
      74.   #72 Esther 12:07  |  Yonatan 27/10/07
      75.   #72 Esther - What about #70? 12:09  |  Yonatan 27/10/07
      76.   #69 SHOW US THE PICTURES 13:02  |  waiting 27/10/07
      77.   Zionism has replaced Judaism in Israel 13:02  |  Boycott 27/10/07
      78.   The Suffering Servant in Gaza 13:05  |  Jimmy 27/10/07
      79.   kassams are falling! where are the power and fuel cuts?! 13:21  |  redmike 27/10/07
      80.   #15 - apparently 50% of Palestinians would agree 13:28  |  redmike 27/10/07
      81.   Re Yonatan #74, 74 13:30  |  Esther 27/10/07
      82.   #9 - you`re out of touch with reality! 13:35  |  redmike 27/10/07
      83.   David Israel #30 In a Pickle. 13:39  |  Hubal 27/10/07
      84.   Cutting electric bills 13:51  |  Simon 27/10/07
      85.   Pickle Man #83 14:03  |  David 27/10/07
      86.   Reducing the dependency of Gaza on Israel 14:19  |  Clickfool 27/10/07
      87.   #72 Esther IS THAT LIKE, `THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT"? 15:31  |  Petra 27/10/07
      88.   #32 WELL HELLO DOLLY, GREAT POST!!!!!! 15:40  |  Petra 27/10/07
      89.   What`s next 15:52  |  Baz Mann 27/10/07
      90.   Why Worry? Sanctions wont hurt Palestinians too much 16:04  |  Dolly 27/10/07
      91.   WHO cares? someone wanna post the truth?? 16:17  |  Levi 27/10/07
      92.   Israel`s incomplete "disengagement" 16:20  |  Tosefta 27/10/07
      93.   Jan Elshout on jewish values 16:25  |  Johnny 27/10/07
      94.   yes it vwill and if not it leads to end of their dependcncy on us 16:43  |  ralph 27/10/07
      95.   since when is lukewarm tea "collective punishment"?? 17:05  |  matt 27/10/07
      96.   Rockets, we need rockets! 18:03  |  Omran 27/10/07
      97.   Hubal #83 18:21  |  David Israel 27/10/07
      98.   Question: does Israel have an Interior Minister ? 19:19  |  Ignoramus 27/10/07
      99.   "sanctions won`t stop rockets" - especially if they`re not used! 19:49  |  redmike 27/10/07
      100.   #15..edifice 19:57  |  Nemesis 27/10/07
      101.   No more pickles until further notice.#97 21:13  |  Hubal 27/10/07
      102.   Let Egypt supply water & eletricity 21:14  |  Adrian de Klerk 27/10/07
      103.   Sorry International Law but control of the borders, airspace and 21:16  |  Murray of Montreal 27/10/07
      104.   Omran 96 21:25  |  ChanahS 27/10/07
      105.   david israel you are wrong 21:47  |  International Law 27/10/07
      106.   Joseph E. - Wrong 21:51  |  MAN 27/10/07
      107.   No more pickles until further notice.#97 21:54  |  Hubal 27/10/07
      108.   PK -0 Avarice 21:55  |  MAN 27/10/07
      109.   MaryRose 21:58  |  MAN 27/10/07
      110.   Vittorio the Jew 22:01  |  MAN 27/10/07
      111.   Omran, you sound like a brave lad. 22:04  |  MaryRose 27/10/07
      112.   #10..Omar .you love the racist word 23:17  |  Nemesis 27/10/07
      113.   Nrs 106,107 108 Man you are the mohamedan 23:39  |  cristo 27/10/07
      114.   Mr Olmert and Mr Abbas now shake hands with... 23:48  |  Maureen Ann 27/10/07
      115.   International Law - I am right 23:52  |  David Israel 27/10/07
      116.   Hubal You made my point 23:56  |  David Israel 27/10/07
      117.   IT IS A MIRACLE HOW THE PALS HAVE SURVIVED! 00:01  |  Watcher 28/10/07
      118.   No Peace, Staus Quo better 00:37  |  HonestAbe 28/10/07
      119.   Cristo 01:02  |  Man 28/10/07
      120.   David Israel from America 01:05  |  International Law 28/10/07
      121.   Abbas is an IDIOT!!! 01:55  |  Moise 28/10/07
      122.   NO NEED FOR PUNITIVE MES., RETAKE GAZA, W.BANK, SECURE BORDERS))) 02:14  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 28/10/07
      123.   Time to open the borders to Gaza 02:45  |  Neil 28/10/07
      124.   International Law 03:20  |  David Israel 28/10/07
      125.   DOES INTERNATIONAL SAY 03:31  |  TOBIA 28/10/07
      126.   #103 Sorry Murray, but you are wrong 04:11  |  Johnboy 28/10/07
      127.   #86, Clickfool... 06:16  |  Silvienne 28/10/07
      128.   #103, Murray of Montreal... 06:20  |  Silvienne 28/10/07
      129.   #114..Maureen A nn 06:37  |  Nemesis 28/10/07
      130.   #115 No, David Israel, you are very wrong 07:12  |  Johnboy 28/10/07
      131.   Vilnai been taking some legal advice, I see 07:23  |  Johnboy 28/10/07
      132.   Add a few more 14:30  |  Advocate4Liberty 28/10/07
      133.   #12 Plus the IDF bombing of the Gazan power plant 18:21  |  Outsider 31/10/07
      134.   David Israel 18:39  |  Outsider 31/10/07
     Today Online
    U.S. renews pressure on Israel to remove West Bank outposts
    Responses: 141
    Israel: Hezbollah has tripled its land-to-sea missile arsenal
    Responses: 95
    Arab MKs: Effort to thwart our trips to enemy states is 'racist'
    Responses: 55
    Shmuel Rosner: Annapolis is the summit of all fears
    Responses: 29
    Benvenisti: What's more foolish, current Jerusalem borders or redrawing them?
    Responses: 22
    Rosner's Domain
    * WTR: Voters want Clinton to attack Iran
    * Guest: Churchill sometimes manipulated Jewish issues
    * Annapolis - The summit of all fears
    * Is Tikkun Olam a substitute for Israel?


    More Headlines
    16:20 Arab MKs: Bid to bar trips to enemy states is 'racist'
    15:34 Israel to UN: Hezbollah has tripled its land-to-sea missile arsenal
    18:22 IDF troops kill Islamic Jihad militant in central Gaza gunbattle
    17:27 German FM to present Israel, PA with EU plan for Mideast peace
    18:36 Jewish, Anglican leaders urge world to protect all holy sites
    18:28 Forced prostitution in WWII camps highlighted in Hamburg exhibit
    11:08 U.S. renews pressure on Israel to remove W. Bank outposts
    17:12 Syria denies plotting assassination of anti-Syrian Lebanese politician
    13:57 Seven accused of kidnapping, beating soldier over alleged theft
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    learn Hebrew online
    with israel's best teachers. Sign up for a trial lesson today
    Invest in Macedonia
    New Business Heaven in Europe
    Long-term Israel programs
    MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants.
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    JOIN FREE AT JDATE.COM
    The most popular online Jewish dating community in the world! Explore the possibilities! Click Here!
    Dead Sea Salt
    Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off!
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt.
    Holiday Inn and Crown Plaza Israel
    Lowest internet rate Guaranteed at ichotelsgroup.com !
    Home| TV| Print Edition| Diplomacy| Opinion| Arts & Leisure| Sports| Jewish World| Underground| Site rules|
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved