Israel's electric corporation plans to cut Palestinians' power supplies
Israel's electric corporation plans to cut Palestinians' power supplies
Concerns deepen over the economic and humanitarian impact if Israel's state-owned power company cuts power supplies to the West Bank.
2 min read
Palestinians will suffer further if Israel cuts power supplies to the West Bank [Getty]
The Israel Electricity Corporation (IEC) has threatened to cut power supplies to Palestinian governorates in the West Bank, it has emerged. The state-owned company argues the Palestinian Authority (PA) has debts totalling $450 million.
IEC is the only supplier of electricity to the West Bank, except for a limited supply from Jordan to the Jericho governorate.
"The IEC has not officially informed the PA of its decision, but it has notified Palestinian electricity distribution companies," said Zafer Melhem, deputy head for technical affairs of the Palestinian Energy and Natural Resources Authority (PENRA).
Melhem said the IEC had made similar threats in the past, but had been stopped by the Israeli government. This time it is more serious, because Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is understood to support the decision.
He also argued the threat was political, because cutting electricity supplies would seriously affect the economy and the provision of vital services.
Ziad Jwelles, the manager of the Ramallah branch of the Jerusalem District Electricity Company (JDECO), said the company had received an official letter from the IEC on Wednesday 28 January. The letter threatened to restrict the power supply to JDECO franchise areas - Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bethhlehem and Jericho - because of accumulated debts.
Jwelles told al-Araby al-Jadeed the letter said a copy had also been sent to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials. He argued international political pressure needed to be placed on the Israeli government to stop the IEC carrying out its threat.
The Israeli government has yet to officially comment on the issue.
Jwelles argued it will be difficult for JDECO to repay its debts because of the Palestinians' difficult living conditions, and the PA's inability to pay employee salaries. Israel also continues to withhold some $127 million in Palestinian tax revenues it collects on behalf of the PA.
The Israeli government previously transferred withheld Palestinian funds directly to the IEC to repay debts. Since 2001, the Israeli government has deducted $2 billion from Palestinian tax revenues on behalf of the electricity corporation.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
IEC is the only supplier of electricity to the West Bank, except for a limited supply from Jordan to the Jericho governorate.
"The IEC has not officially informed the PA of its decision, but it has notified Palestinian electricity distribution companies," said Zafer Melhem, deputy head for technical affairs of the Palestinian Energy and Natural Resources Authority (PENRA).
Melhem said the IEC had made similar threats in the past, but had been stopped by the Israeli government. This time it is more serious, because Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is understood to support the decision.
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The threat is political, because cutting electricity supplies will seriously affect the economy and the provision of vital services. |
He also argued the threat was political, because cutting electricity supplies would seriously affect the economy and the provision of vital services.
Ziad Jwelles, the manager of the Ramallah branch of the Jerusalem District Electricity Company (JDECO), said the company had received an official letter from the IEC on Wednesday 28 January. The letter threatened to restrict the power supply to JDECO franchise areas - Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bethhlehem and Jericho - because of accumulated debts.
Jwelles told al-Araby al-Jadeed the letter said a copy had also been sent to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials. He argued international political pressure needed to be placed on the Israeli government to stop the IEC carrying out its threat.
The Israeli government has yet to officially comment on the issue.
Jwelles argued it will be difficult for JDECO to repay its debts because of the Palestinians' difficult living conditions, and the PA's inability to pay employee salaries. Israel also continues to withhold some $127 million in Palestinian tax revenues it collects on behalf of the PA.
The Israeli government previously transferred withheld Palestinian funds directly to the IEC to repay debts. Since 2001, the Israeli government has deducted $2 billion from Palestinian tax revenues on behalf of the electricity corporation.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
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