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Hamas gunmen patrolling the streets of Gaza. (AP)
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Last update - 13:24 02/11/2007
Gov't defends decision to curb power supply to Gaza Strip
By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent
tags: Israel, State Prosecution 

In a letter to the High Court of Justice, State Prosecution on Friday defended the government's decision to curb the supply of fuel and electricity to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, claiming it is not a form of collective punishment.

State prosecution argued the measure was appropriate considering that the area is controlled by an organization that calls for the destruction of the State of Israel and is used as a base for militants who launch regular rocket attacks against its civilian population.

"Any measure taken by one state that has negative consequences on the economy of another will also hurt the citizens of that state," State Prosecution wrote. "In such instances, one can claim that any measure made within the context of an armed conflict is a form of collective punishment of the civilians of that state; a mistaken and absurd argument that counters international law and common practice."
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"According to such an incorrect argument, imposing a financial boycott or pressure on countries such as South Africa during the Apartheid, or Iran today, would not be possible because any such measure would hurt the populace of the said country," it added.

Human rights organizations petitioned the High Court demanding it prohibits Israel from carrying out its decision to cut power supplies to Gaza. Groups claimed such action would hurt innocent civilians.
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  1.   All power, petrol and all other supplies must not be permitted 12:10  |  Peter 02/11/07
  2.   The occupation and collective punishment 12:21  |  Boycott 02/11/07
  3.   these idiots woudl have peitioned to allow eichmann to keep runni 12:37  |  v ictor hardman 02/11/07
  4.   IT IS LIKE THE U.S HELPING IRAN 12:41  |  JIN FEIGENBAUM 02/11/07
  5.   Note, as Peter # 1 states, Israel must stop supplying 13:03  |  Dror 02/11/07
  6.   petrol, power and other supplies 13:38  |  Michael 02/11/07
  7.   Israel is creating a humanitarian disaster 13:39  |  Martijn 02/11/07
  8.   The neighborhood bully (Bob Dylan)(1) 13:41  |  Gil 02/11/07
  9.   US is not in control of Iran`s borders 13:41  |  Martin 02/11/07
  10.   The neighborhood bully (Bob Dylan)(2) 13:42  |  Gil 02/11/07
  11.   The neighborhood bully (Bob Dylan)(3) 13:43  |  Gil 02/11/07
  12.   The two wrongs that don`t negate each other 13:48  |  Outsider 02/11/07
  13.   Gov,t needs to defend the time it took 14:05  |  M.Ohm 02/11/07
  14.   All comes down to "occupation", doesn`t it? 14:06  |  Johnboy 02/11/07
  15.   Collective punishment is the price you have to pay for land teft 14:38  |  infidel 02/11/07
  16.   ISRAEL BREAKS INTERNATIONAL LAW 14:43  |  JH 02/11/07
  17.   Gaza is Occupied territory,not a state and Hamas is a Resistance 14:48  |  lakshmi 02/11/07
  18.   Gaza is Israel`s Guantanamo. 14:52  |  Michael 02/11/07
  19.   concern for Pals in Gaza what about Israeli`s & Qassams 15:08  |  Kipperraes 02/11/07
  20.   Idiots like #16 JH 15:08  |  Akiva 02/11/07
  21.   More Than Overdue 15:10  |  Ron 02/11/07
  22.   Basic flaw in the State`s argument 15:19  |  Tosefta 02/11/07
  23.   #6 15:25  |  B 02/11/07
  24.   #16 15:28  |  B 02/11/07
  25.   #17 15:37  |  B 02/11/07
  26.   Let the UN /international red cross supply fuel and electricity 15:44  |  John 02/11/07
  27.   Let the UN /international red cross supply fuel and electricity 15:44  |  John 02/11/07
  28.   Let the UN /international red cross supply fuel and electricity 15:44  |  John 02/11/07
  29.   Take Israel to court 15:45  |  Mike 02/11/07
  30.   #27 No Court Date 16:21  |  Ron 02/11/07
  31.   ad 1 16:52  |  igor shariv 02/11/07
  32.   #22 Tosefta 17:08  |  Boycott 02/11/07
  33.   Hamas is causing Humanitarian suffering in Sderot 17:22  |  GF 02/11/07
  34.   Lakshmi (#17) Collective Punishment ,Yes 17:39  |  Gil 02/11/07
  35.   #18 - Michael 17:49  |  MichaelF 02/11/07
  36.   #16 - JH 17:55  |  MichaelF 02/11/07
  37.   #7 - Martijn 17:59  |  MichaelF 02/11/07
  38.   Training Pals to revolt against Rulers that bring them harm 18:08  |  Pablo B 02/11/07
  39.   Deny electricity for production of Quasams? 18:35  |  Zooog 02/11/07
  40.   WHAT IS MORE HUMANE? 18:47  |  Joe Momma 02/11/07
  41.   Take Israel to court (mike numero 27) 18:52  |  Joe Momma 02/11/07
  42.   re petrol power and other supplies (michael ) 18:54  |  Elliott 02/11/07
  43.   MichaelF Stick to talking about Silver Spring wherever that is 19:10  |  Michael 02/11/07
  44.   response to Marylyn 19:11  |  Elliott 02/11/07
  45.   Muslims in hate percentages 19:12  |  Joe Momma 02/11/07
  46.   Just do it 19:16  |  peter 02/11/07
  47.   Tosefta # 22 & Boycott # 31 What Occupation? I 19:30  |  Jeff Northridge 02/11/07
  48.   Boycott..... 19:32  |  Lynn 02/11/07
  49.   #31 Igor 19:32  |  Elliott 02/11/07
  50.   TO DROR #5 19:36  |  Steve Beikirch 02/11/07
  51.   If you want to turn off the lights, just turn off the occupation 19:41  |  Mark Lincoln 02/11/07
  52.   38 19:47  |  Elliott 02/11/07
  53.   #16 20:04  |  Elliott 02/11/07
  54.   Tosefta # 22 & Boycott # 31 What Occupation? II 20:31  |  Jeff Northridge 02/11/07
  55.   Power cuts to the Gaza Strip 20:36  |  Mario 02/11/07
  56.   Luxuries 20:39  |  Scharker Yid 02/11/07
  57.   #43 - Michael, stick to talking about the UK wherever that is 20:40  |  MichaelF 02/11/07
  58.   #51 - Mark Lincoln 20:44  |  MichaelF 02/11/07
  59.   #52 Elliot - regular lives 20:46  |  Pablo B 02/11/07
  60.   Mark Lincoln (#51). So we are occupying Gaza, are we? 21:19  |  Gil 02/11/07
  61.   Gaza can get plenty of fuel oil from Iran - giant camp 21:30  |  0 degrees 02/11/07
  62.   Martijn #7 21:42  |  jo moor 02/11/07
  63.   Dutch proves no collective punishment 22:23  |  |)utch 02/11/07
  64.   Collective Punishment and War Crimes 22:35  |  Dorothea 02/11/07
  65.   Tosefta # 22 & Boycott # 31 What Occupation? IV 22:37  |  Jeff Northridge 02/11/07
  66.   Boycott # 32 Harming non-combatants 22:44  |  Dolly 02/11/07
  67.   #54 Jeff 22:54  |  Boycott 02/11/07
  68.   It is a crime against the Palastinians 23:04  |  Israeli 02/11/07
  69.   #51 Mark Lincon 23:16  |  Non Dutch 02/11/07
  70.   Mystery of the missing brain (Jeff Northridge #54) 23:16  |  Tosefta 02/11/07
  71.   Pro Arab League Arabised High Court will still gets its revenge 23:37  |  Joseph E . 02/11/07
  72.   Boycott # 67 That Is "Interstate" Commerce 23:59  |  Jeff Northridge 02/11/07
  73.   Tosefta # 22 & Boycott # 31 What Occupation? III 00:01  |  Jeff Northridge 03/11/07
  74.   Tosefta # 22 & Boycott # 31 What Occupation? V 00:04  |  Jeff Northridge 03/11/07
  75.   #6 Michael - London 00:14  |  * BEN JABO 03/11/07
  76.   #7 Martijn 00:19  |  * BEN JABO 03/11/07
  77.   #66 Dollie 00:23  |  Boycott 03/11/07
  78.   #16 JH - Read the Hamas Charter 00:26  |  * BEN JABO 03/11/07
  79.   #29 Mike 00:28  |  * BEN JABO 03/11/07
  80.   #73 Jeff 00:36  |  Boycott 03/11/07
  81.   #72 Boycott 00:38  |  * BEN JABO 03/11/07
  82.