Defense chiefs: Cut power to Beit Hanun

Senior defense officials decided in an urgent meeting yesterday to recommend to Defense Minister Ehud Barak and the cabinet the imposition of further sanctions on the Gaza Strip, following 8 Qassam and 12 mortar attacks on Israeli territory. During the meeting, called by deputy defense minister Matan Vilnai, it was decided to recommend additional limitations on the delivery of various types of fuel, services and merchandise.

The Defense Ministry is now completing a plan for harsh economic sanctions against the Hamas government in the Strip. The plan includes cutting electricity for several hours every time there is a Qassam rocket attack.

The security establishment decided a few days ago to cut electricity to the Beit Hanun area in the northern Strip in response to rocket fire, in keeping with a September cabinet decision to designate Gaza as "hostile territory." Power was to be cut for periods of two hours, during the evening or the night.

Meanwhile, at that same meeting, it was also decided that along with more stringent sanctions against the Strip, restrictions in the West Bank would be eased. Israel has recently removed 24 physical blockages, to ease movement of residents, as well as one permanent roadblock, Barak told U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley.

Data was presented at the meeting stating that Israel has five electric lines going into the Gaza Strip. Four deliver power to an army base in the area of the Strip or to neighborhoods in Gaza City with hospitals, and therefore they cannot be shut down. The fifth line transmits power from Israel to Beit Hanun, the source of extensive rocket fire.

The defense establishment and the Israel Electric Corporation are working on possible joint steps involving power. A plan is to be presented soon to the government that would allow for power cuts that do not necessitate bombing of power stations, an action that would cause additional and long-term damage. The decision to proceed with such a step would be made by the prime minister and the defense minister, in the event of an escalation of rocket fire. The defense establishment is reportedly opposed to the idea of cutting the water supply to the Strip.

Meanwhile, the economic situation in the Gaza Strip is deteriorating. According to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), about 1,100,000 residents, or 75 percent of the Strip's population, are now receiving food assistance from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the WFP. WFP spokesperson Kirstie Campbell said this rate of food assistance is the highest in the world.

The guidelines by which the defense establishment is working with regard to supplying Gaza state that items essential to prevent hunger will not be blocked, while "luxury" items will not be allowed. "Oil, they'll get from us. Balsamic vinegar - no," a security source said. In recent weeks Israel has blocked the transfer of merchandise into the Strip, including cigarettes, electric appliances, furniture, toys and calves for slaughter (supply of the livestock will apparently be renewed shortly). The supply of some cheeses as well as milk powder for babies has been stopped, as has carbon dioxide for soft drinks. The supply of fruit and vegetables has been curtailed, and Israeli farmers unable to market their produce to the Strip have to sell in Israel, leading to a fall in prices. Shipments of sugar too are now being scrutinized after terror organizations tried to use sugar sacks to transfer potassium to Gaza for use in explosives.

The sanctions are raising protests from rabbis and the Orthodox parties because of the disruption of produce that observant Jews choose to import during the shmitah year.