Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., March 20, 2008 Adar2 14, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:49 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Egypt to take over supplying Gaza power in draft deal By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff Israeli and Egyptian representatives agreed in principle yesterday to a deal that would have Egypt replace Israel as the Gaza Strip's sole electricity provider. Under the deal, Egypt would set up a new power line from the Sinai Peninsula town of Arish to the nearby Gaza Strip. The 150-megawatt line would cost $35 million to set up, and would be operational within two years. Advertisement Egypt currently provides the Gaza Strip with only 7 megawatts of power, while Israel provides 124 megawatts via 10 different lines. A local power station produces the remainder. Security sources say the agreement will effectively free Israel from supplying Gaza with electricity, even though it does not specifically say so. Israel decided to reduce power supplies to Gaza in February to protest Qassam rocket fire on Israel by Palestinian militants. Palestinian Energy Committee chair Omar Katana, who is in charge of the project on the Palestinian side, is not affiliated with Hamas. Two weeks ago, he said the Egyptian plan would be funded by the Saudi Islamic Development Bank. Tenders will be issued over the next few days. Israeli security sources said the infrastructure minister and the Defense Ministry have been in talks with Egypt for a long time. The deal won the approval of Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who is interested in severing ties with Gaza. "Ostensibly, we will lose our control of the Gaza power switch, but it also entails a huge advantage if we can transfer responsibility for electricity to Egypt," security officials said. Meanwhile, Israel is continuing to handle transfers of goods to Gaza, in partnership with Palestinian Authority officials loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, even though Hamas controls the coastal strip. The relevant PA ministry, for example, with offices in the West Bank city of Ramallah, still operates the Palestinian side of the Erez Crossing between Gaza and Israel. Since Hamas' takeover of the Gaza Strip, some 5,000 Palestinians seeking medical aid and their companions have entered Israel. In addition, an average of 100 trucks carrying sesame seeds, lentils, wheat and other foodstuffs enter the Strip through the Kerem Shalom and Karni crossings every day. Before the second intifada broke out in 2000, more than 1,000 trucks entered Gaza via the same crossings every day. Channel 10 yesterday aired the first pictures of the fence erected by the Egyptians along the border with Gaza, to replace the one that was overrun several months ago. The new barrier has numerous sniper positions and guard posts. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Good Avraham Hunting An ex-security guard solves a problem that has baffled mathematicians for decades. A better place Some 2,400 African refugees have entered Israel via Egypt since January.

Today Online Yesha rabbi: Jewish law forbids renting houses to Arabs Responses: 234 Palestinian Americans warned of security profiling at B-G Airport Responses: 184 Bin Laden tape: Iron and fire needed to liberate Palestine Responses: 99 Egypt agrees to take over as Gaza power supplier Responses: 106 Abe Foxman: Anti-Semitism is not just a Jewish problem Responses: 47 More Headlines 01:11 14-year-old boy hurt in terror attack near Hebron 23:55 PM says worried Russian arms will reach Hezbollah 22:19 Bin Laden tape: Iron and fire needed to liberate Palestine 21:27 Jewish group seeks to purge YouTube of anti-Semitic videos 21:27 Israeli ex-security guard solves 38-year-old math problem 15:40 Rocket damages Negev house; Medics: IDF kills Gaza civilian 19:40 Ariel teen seriously wounded by explosion in his house 00:52 In surprise move, Fischer to increase foreign currency reserves 18:59 Fatah delegates to leave Yemen without Hamas deal 18:20 Health Ministry to vaccinate health workers against measles 17:00 Some 2,400 African refugees have entered Israel this year 18:38 Abbas' sons sue Channel 1 for reporting they own cellphone company Previous Editions Select Day 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar

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