Posted on 05/10/2006 9:34:16 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - The Israeli company that provides fuel to the Palestinian areas is cutting off supplies due to growing debts, Israeli and Palestinian officials said Wednesday, a move that could deepen a humanitarian crisis in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The head of the Palestinian petrol commission, Mujahid Salame, said he expected gasoline supplies to run out by Thursday. "If this happens, there will be a humanitarian crisis," he said.
He said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was in touch with American and European diplomats in hopes of pressuring Israel to ensure the flow of fuel to the Palestinian areas.
Dor Energy has been the sole provider of gasoline to the Palestinian areas since interim peace agreements were signed in the mid-1990s. Company officials declined comment.
Salame said the Palestinians owe about $26 million to Dor, but he accused the company of taking a political decision aimed at punishing the Hamas-led Palestinian government.
Israel has stopped about $55 million in monthly tax transfers to the Palestinians, demanding that the militant Islamic group renounce violence and recognize the Jewish state. The tax money has been placed in escrow.
Last month, Israel used this money to pay Palestinian debts owed to government-run companies like the Israeli electric company.
But Asaf Shariv, a spokesman for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said Israel would "absolutely not" bail out the Palestinians this time. Dor has cut off supplies twice before this year - only to be paid at the last minute by the Palestinians.
Israeli economic pressure, along with a cutoff in aid by Western donors, has left the Hamas government unable to pay its bills and thousands of civil servants without salaries.
Western powers agreed Tuesday to restore humanitarian aid to the Palestinian areas, as long as the money doesn't reach Hamas. But it remained unclear when the money will begin flowing.
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Get a job and pay your bills.
Remember 9/11 - on that day, the Israelis dispatched experts to help get survivors out of the rubble. In contrast the Palestinians celebrated. As such, all the latter deserve is the iron fist.
Regards, Ivan
Good, why assist people who are bent on your destruction? A question that should be asked of Bush, by the way.
This makes me long for the day when we do the same thing to all the Arabs because we no longer need their oil...
...wishful thinking.
I read that the USA had caved in and is giving the "Eternal Leech" another hand out. Palestinians are the Eternal Leeches, something needs to be done. They are not self supporting, and it looks like they never will be.
The palestinians produce a suplus supply of HATE. They have eat that. And, for fuel, they can use some of that C4 they happen to have so much of -- better take the nails out first before burning it, though.
Now cut off their water and electricity.
Maybe if they'd stop their blood thirsty killing of innocent Israeli's it would help?
Good Israel. If they don't pay, your denial is legitimate. Other nations would do the same thing in the same situation.
That explains why our American left supports Palestine. Birds of a feather flock together. They have a lot in common.
Slow death. I hope they suffer greatly.
Why don't they get their fuel from Syria, Jordan, or the Saudis?
Oh, because the Syrians, Jordanians, and Saudis know they won't pay.
(Salame said the Palestinians owe about $26 million to Dor, but he accused the company of taking a political decision.)
Two contradictory statements right there.
That's what Sir Lawrence (of Arabia) found out after trying so hard to be the Arab's friend and getting them united.
So today, they destroy the prosperous greenhouses left to them by the Israelis when they were forced out. Typical. They only know how to destroy, not coperate like a civilized society.
[/SARCASM]
"If this happens, there will be a humanitarian crisis,"
So now Palestine can't survive without Israel. What a joke. Let them starve and die. I guess it wouldn't occur to them to turn to their arab friends that they love so much in Jordan and Syria (both of which used to be part of "Palestine")
I notice the words "humanitarion crisis" are being used a lot.
Don't you have to have humans involved?????
Palistineans, as a race, have nothing going for them. They are completely retarded.
Let their friends pay their bills. See how their arab brothers rush to their aid. Ptui. Bunch of animals.
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