Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., April 08, 2008 Nisan 3, 5768 | | Israel Time: 10:59 (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

Last update - 08:48 08/04/2008 Gazans turn to black market to overcome gasoline shortage By The Associated Press Tags: Gaza, Israel, Fuel Muin Abdul Ghani sleeps in his car, parked among dozens of other vehicles at a gas station, unwilling to give up his place in line in his desperate scramble for gasoline. It's one way Gaza's embattled 1.4 million residents are adjusting their lives around their newest crisis - a protest of gas station owners following months of restricted Israeli fuel supplies. Gaza residents also wrestle with high black market prices and overstuffed t Advertisement axis. They have turned to bicycles, liquid gas for their cars and homemade fuel recipes to try to deal with the shortage. Israel has restricted fuel supplies since September to pressure Palestinian militants into halting rocket fire at neighboring Israeli communities, but with no apparent results. "We are like street dogs looking for bones," said Abdul Ghani, a 44-year-old taxi driver, smoking by his car at a gas station in the northern Gaza Strip town of Jebaliya. Around 200 cars, taxis, delivery trucks, and farm machinery vehicles were parked there, waiting for the gas station to distribute rationed supplies. Some drivers abandoned their cars, while others sold their places in line. Abdul Ghani slept in his car overnight and expected to wait at least another day for a day's worth of fuel. Gaza's Hamas government rations out fuel by only allowing Gaza residents to take 17 liters (four gallons) at a time. Israel supplies around 70,000 liters (19,000 gallons) of gasoline a week, eight percent of Gaza's needs, and 800,000 liters (200,000 gallons) of diesel fuel - 30 percent of Gaza's needs, Palestinians charge. Israeli army Col. Nir Press, commander of the military liaison unit, countered that Israel is supplying Gaza with more than enough fuel for its basic needs, but the Islamic Hamas movement is using some of it for its own purposes, including fuel for vehicles that ferry rockets to be fired at Israel. "I really don't think that this is a crisis," Press said. "They want to create an apperance of a crisis." The Hamas government takes around half of Gaza's reduced supplies for hospitals, municipal services, water wells and sewage pumps, said Ziad Zaza, a senior Hamas government official. Protesting the shortages, gas station owners rebelled on Monday, refusing to sell small amounts they have in stock, or accept future shipments. Gaza residents are seeking their own solutions. Drivers pay black market prices for siphoned-off fuel. One taxi driver purchased a 17-liter (four-gallon) tank for $33 (euro21) from a sneaky gas station employee. Gas sells at the pump for $27 (euro17) for a 17-liter (four-gallon) tank. It was a good deal. "We just want to keep our business running," said the driver, who asked not to be named because the Hamas government forbids black market fuel trading. Other black market traders offer 17-liter (four-gallon)tanks for $55 (euro35). Reflecting the shortages, shared taxis that once fit seven people are now piling in 10, sometimes 15 people. At a Gaza City road where shared cabs ship university students home, men and women stood in unhappy clumps waiting for rides. Heba Mina, a 22-year-old student was waiting for a ride to her central Gaza Strip home. It used to take seconds to get a cab. Now the wait is longer. Mina, who wears a full face veil and long black robe, now squeezes into cabs filled with men, once forbidden by conservative Gaza Muslim etiquette, often the 10th passenger in a vehicle built to take seven. "It's embarrassing, but I'm desperate," Mina said. This week, she missed two morning classes because she couldn't find transport on time. The scarcity is good business for some. Wael Awad, a 28-year-old car mechanic makes a $137 (euro87) profit converting a car from gasoline to liquid gas, more plentiful in Gaza. Since fuel restrictions began, he's converted at least one car a day. Before the crisis, he said he converted two a week. Other Gaza residents are mixing kerosene with used cooking oil to power their cars, but it's not clear whether it actually works. Fawzi Hisi, 25, a Hamas policeman, dusted off his childhood bike two months ago. "I couldn't find a taxi to get to work," Hisi said. He's lucky. His colleagues can't afford new bicycles, but can't find second hand bikes, now in short supply. Hisi said the fuel shortage wouldn't shake his loyalty to the Hamas government. "I'll walk if I have to. We won't die from a fuel shortage," he said Bookmark to del.icio.us   In his father's memory Gilad Sharon's son plans to write his father's memoirs as he lies in a coma. Jammed FM Police close an English radio station which encourages Israeli-Palestinian dialogue.   1.   $35 for 5 gallons? Whew! The IDF should.... 10:40  |  Magnify 08/04/08   2.   What! $33 for a 4 gallon petrol pump? The IDF can.... 10:55  |  The Archives 08/04/08

Today Online Bradley Burston: I want the Palestinians to win Responses: 29 Rosner: Evangelist to Yoffie: 'I'm not trying to undermine peace' Responses: 27 Moshe Arens: Making Palestine Judenrein Responses: 7 Barghouti peace overture to be read at Peace Now rally Responses: 11 Rosner's Domain New Guest: US should revoke support for Palestinian state Pastor Hagee vs. rabbi Yoffie, round two (WTR) New poll: Yoffie or Hagee - you can vote! The popular Condi Rice (WTR) What is worth fighting for? More Headlines 10:02 Sirens sound as IDF carries out largest civil defense drill ever 09:02 Vice PM: Ofra settlement homes built on private Palestinian land 03:28 Evangelist to Yoffie: 'I'm not trying to undermine peace' 10:14 Ex-chief justice: Friedmann reforms will make Israel third world country 06:39 Gaydamak, Pensioners poised to form new Knesset faction 09:26 Barghouti peace overture to be read at Peace Now rally 08:48 Gazans turn to black market to overcome gasoline shortage 02:36 Opposition to national service in Israel's Arab sector is bitter 03:44 Court extends remand of sixth suspect in case of abused Jerusalem toddlers 05:36 Report: Settlement planned for Gush Katif evacuees likely to damage nature preserve Previous Editions Select Day 07 apr 06 apr 04 apr 03 apr 02 apr 01 apr 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar

Special Offers Advertisement Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today Behind the Z Word Scholarly essays, commentary, podcasts, blogs and much more. NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved