What A Joke
Defense Minister Ehud Barak's approval Thursday of an IDF plan to impose sanctions on the Gaza Strip in wake of the escalation in Kassam rocket attacks, was the first step, defense officials told The Jerusalem Post, towards a "complete disengagement" including the gradual reduction in Palestinian dependency on Israel for gas and electricity.During his weekly security meeting on Thursday Barak approved the plan that had been formulated by Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilna'i and Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Maj.-Gen. Yosef Mishlav in line with the recent cabinet decision that defined Gaza as a "hostile entity."
According to the plan, one of the power lines connecting Israel and Gaza will be shut down at first for 15 minutes after a rocket attack, gradually increasing the cutoff length if the barrages continue, up to a two-hour limit. In addition, Israel will begin reducing the amount of gasoline it allows into the Gaza Strip.
Defense officials stressed that the fairly-limited sanctions were not capable of creating a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and were being imposed with the eventual goal - of the defense establishment - to completely cut off Palestinian dependency on Israel. The cuts to electricity will not affect Gaza-based hospitals, defense officials said.
Palestinians and human rights groups denounced the measure as collective punishment. One of the groups, Gisha, issued a statement warning, "Playing with electricity is playing with fire," adding, "Even a brief interruption in electricity threatens the safety and well-being of Gaza residents."
Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said Israel had no choice but to take punitive measures. "Should we tell them to continue firing rockets at the same power station that provides them with electricity and continue to bomb the water system that provides them with water?" he asked.
Defense officials stressed that the cuts to electricity and gas were not being taken to "punish" the Palestinians but to instead gradually begin the final disengagement from the Gaza Strip, which was started in 2005 when Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Palestinian territory.
Is this the best Israel can do, what a joke.
Israel gets hit with rockets and we will turn the power off for 15 minutes and oh boy if the Palestinians keep launching rockets at Israel we may build up to a two hour period with no power. Gaza where many homes don't have electricity, will not be effected at all by a two hour blackout.
But wait please don't speak harshly about us for turning off the electricity, we are not attempting to punish the Palestinians. We Jews just couldn't be so mean.
No, this is just part of our retreat from Gaza.
Come on guys, lead!
Cut off Gaza, nothing in or out.
No people allowed across the border, no food, no water, no electricity, no business, no cash, no press, and lastly no U.N.
Then after they have had a chance to get hungry and thirsty after 3-4 weeks, invade.
The IDF needs to return to Gaza and stay there for good. The same holds true for Southern Lebanon.
That's what real leaders would do.
