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Last update - 23:39 03/01/2008 High Court rejects petition against cuts to Gaza Strip fuel supply By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent, and The Associated Press Tags: Hamas, humanitarian, Israel  The High Court of Justice rejected an appeal by human rights groups Thursday for an injunction against fuel cuts to the Gaza Strip, rejecting their argument that the cuts cause humanitarian harm. Israel instituted the cuts as part of a policy of pressure to stop daily rocket fire at Israel by Gaza militants, and plans to reduce the fuel supply to 230,000 liters per week. The presiding justices Dorit Beinisch, Esther Hiut, and Yosef Alon said the the fuel that would continue to be supply could be distributed in a controlled manner that takes into account the population's humanitarian needs. Advertisement The court further ruled that reducing fuel supplies could hinder Gaza militants from targeting border towns with Qassam rockets. "Reducing fuel supplies hits the terror infrastructure and hinders its ability to attack Israeli citizens," the court said in its decision. The court said it took Gaza's civilian population into consideration and would monitor the affects of the fuel cuts to prevent a humanitarian crisis. Another hearing was set for February 8. Gaza depends on Israel for all its fuel. Israel began reducing fuel supplies in October and gasoline supplies have been cut by 33-45 percent so far, according to statistics provided by Gisha, one of the groups that filed the appeal. Gisha director Sari Bashi disagreed with the court's reasoning. "These punitive measures are repeatedly pushing Gaza residents to the brink without any legitimate security justification," she said. "Preventing health care workers from driving to patients in need does not stop Qassam rocket fire ... and only makes more innocent civilians suffer," Bashi said. Israel has declared Gaza a hostile entity and closed its borders halting almost all trade. Related articles: IDF: Gaza fuel cuts don't violate humanitarian duty High Court orders state to delay planned power cuts to Gaza Cabinet declares Gaza 'hostile territory' Bookmark to del.icio.us   A second visit? Peres invites Bush to visit Israel in May for Independence Day. After Iowa Is there room for both McCain and Giuliani's campaigns?   1.   genocide coming right up 22:19  |  muslim 03/01/08   2.   What Hamas wats Hamas gets--Israel gives 22:57  |  Labhras 03/01/08   3.   What Hamas wats Hamas gets--Israel gives 22:57  |  Labhras 03/01/08   4.   Who is Labharassss 23:12  |  Labhras`s admirer 03/01/08   5.   Good Show, IHCJ 23:17  |  Jeff Northridge 03/01/08   6.   Muslim 23:19  |  ottomatik 03/01/08   7.   #2 labarse of arabia still on the xmas booze 23:23  |  victor hardman 03/01/08   8.   1 & 2 - there are moderate Arabs but no moderate Muslims! 23:27  |  redmike 03/01/08   9.   6. ottomatik 23:31  |  muslim 03/01/08   10.   labhras, go have another round . . 23:35  |  hebro 03/01/08   11.   Will it ever be enough to awaken the islamist mind? 23:44  |  akiva (zionist) 03/01/08   12.   The court is right 00:41  |  Emanuel 04/01/08   13.   Pull the damn plug already 01:03  |  Nathan Mizrahi 04/01/08   14.   muslim#1 01:54  |  JOJO (USA) 04/01/08   15.   LABRHAS #2 02:01  |  JOJO (USA) 04/01/08   16.   muslim...Egypt will be involved 02:21  |  Lynn 04/01/08   17.   WHAT does Hamas High Court say about Qassems& suicide bombers 02:30  |  PETER SM 04/01/08   18.   #1 muslim 03:35  |  Amish 04/01/08   19.   Response criteria 04:22  |  Elizabeth Johnson 04/01/08   20.   Response criteria 04:24  |  Elizabeth Johnson 04/01/08   21.   muslim wil Egypt help?.. 07:49  |  charro 04/01/08   22.   gaza people, men or wimps. 07:54  |  charro 04/01/08   23.   this talkback has not been updating?! 15:55  |  redmike 04/01/08   24.   Zeig Heil IDF/SS 19:23  |  David 04/01/08   25.   Geography 23:31  |  Advocate4Liberty 04/01/08

Today Online Amos Harel: Israel is not the only one exercising restraint Responses: 143 Ramon: Crackdown on outposts likely to start after Bush visit Responses: 104 Wiesenthal Center calls on UN to focus on suicide bombings Responses: 187 Editorial: The IDF is an army that has ceased to function as an army Responses: 127 Qassam causes damage to home in Sderot; IDF kills 2 Hamas men Responses: 99 Rosner's Domain Is there room for both McCain and Giuliani? New poll: Obama, Huckabee, who's better for Israel? The Judaism of Alicia Silverstone (WTR) Rosner's Guest: How to raise Jewish children The green line is turning red More Headlines 01:27 Meshal: No compromise on terms for Shalit deal 01:18 Qassam causes damage to home in Sderot; IDF kills 2 Hamas men 20:27 Palestinian PM lambasts Israel over West Bank arrest raids 09:07 Wiesenthal Center calls on UN to formally address suicide attacks 22:20 After Iowa: Is there room for both McCain and Giuliani? 21:20 U.S. President George Bush is likely to visit Israel again in May 19:34 Sinai lawmaker calls for calm after Bedouin man shot outside his home near the Israeli border 19:05 Poll: Fatah losing support among West Bank, Gaza Palestinians 19:29 Bush, Jordan's king confer by phone over Mideast peace process 21:26 Settlers council: Peres subjects pres. institution to extreme left Previous Editions Select Day 04 jan 03 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 28 dec 27 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec

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