The Utility of Cutting Off Utilities
I’m finally hearing some sense from one of our politicians, albeit from one who has a problem keeping his tongue away from the throats of young women.
Meanwhile, Vice-Premier Haim Ramon, one of a growing number of cabinet ministers in favor of cutting off utilities to Gaza in response to Qassam fire, said Tuesday that Israel should put a “price tag” on every rocket launched at Israel.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is to convene his security cabinet on Wednesday to discuss the continuing Qassam shelling of Sderot and other western Negev communities.
The call to cut off water, electricity, gas and fuel to the Strip is seen as an alternative – or, if unsuccessful, a prelude – to a broad IDF incursion into northern Gaza and perhaps the Philadelphi Route in the south.
“We will set a price tag for every Qassam, in terms of cutting off infrastructures,” Ramon said in remarks broadcast on Army Radio. “The Hamas will determine that price tag. It will know this in advance.”
“We will not continue to supply ‘oxygen’ in the form of electricity, fuel, and water while they are trying to murder our kids. The capability to do that stems from the fact that we are not in Gaza.”
I couldn’t agree more, although this should have been decided months – if not years ago.
And to those of you who will condemn such a move as collective punishment, I would first respond that I do not recall hearing such cries when rockets started raining down on Sderot and other Israeli towns and cities. Then I would posit that the “average” palestinian either supports terrorism or does not support it. If they support it, they should be considered culpable. If they do not support it but do not discourage it, they should be considered at least partly culpable. It is not enough to remain quiet while terrorists fire rockets at innocent people, using rocket launchers located near their houses.
If the majority of palestinians oppose terrorism, then they need to send a loud and clear message to their terrorist brethren. And if basic morality does not serve as a good enough motivator for them, being short of electricity, fuel, and water might just do the trick.
And if you think I sound harsh, I’m guessing you are not accustomed to having rockets deliberately fired at your children’s schools.
Update: Hamas’ response:
A spokesman for Islamic Hamas movement said on Tuesday the Israeli threat of cutting power supplies to Gaza is “not strange” as the Jewish state used to combat the Palestinian people by all means.
By “all means”, I am guessing he means entering into negotiations, making one-sided concessions, and not responding sufficiently to attacks on her citizens. As opposed to the means with which he’s familar, such as firing rockets at schools and nurseries, sending human bombs to murder civilians, using children as human shields, and smuggling weapons using ambulances and baby strollers.
He accused Israel of utilizing the rocket attacks as a pretext, saying his movement dose not fire as much rockets as the other factions do.
But he vowed to escalate the rocket attack whenever Hamas finds it necessary. “The Palestinian people can’t achieve their goals without resistance,” said the spokesman.
And many palestinians do believe this. So they need to know that all they will achieve with resistance terrorism is a downturn in their situation.
Update: For those of you who claim the “average” palestinian would be too frightened to speak out against the terrorists, you needn’t look further back than this picture and caption from today:
Members of the Palestinian Women’s Union chant slogans as they demonstrate in Gaza City to demand to the restoration of law and order in the Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007. Hamas wrested control of the Gaza Strip from forces affiliated with the Fatah Party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in five days of bloody fighting in June. Tensions have since been high between the rival groups in Gaza, with Hamas arresting Fatah officials and those loyal to the party. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)
Demanding the restoration of law and order in the Gaza Strip, but not the end of Qassam rocket launchers near their homes.
And you may also recall this protest in March.
About the Author
An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.Filed Under: Uncategorized
I agree that this is a good idea. Unfortunately the world will see it being a bad thing. THey do not believe that Israel has a right to exist. The UN is so antisematic that I question it could ever prevent an attack on Israel. They have in the past helped terrorists with kidnapping. Though it was individuals within a UN force they make no attempt to stop the actions these individuals.
The response used should be done with care. For the terrorists will kill people and say it is Israel’s fault. They are too good at communicating lies as if they are truth.
Water would be the last resort. People can survive without electricity and fuel. Water well that is a hard one to defend. If Israel stopped supplying these needs then maybe some of the terrorist funds would have to be spent to build their infrastructure. Less money available to buy missles. The choice would be Electricity or Missles. WHo knows which they will choose.
I agree with AussieDave completely on this one. Indeed, put yourself in the place of your average Israeli. I live in Iowa, a placid, peaceful bit of space right in the middle of the good old US of A. But if some militant Canadians (oxymoron) or more likely, the odd Minnesotan were to lob rockets into my neighborhood, I’m not going to feel too friendly toward them no matter how much they suffer from the cold, drinking too much Molson’s Ale or consuming American culture in mass quantities. Serves ‘em right I say.
I’ve been advocating the cutoff of electricity, fuel and especially telecom to sympathizsers of Fatah, Hamas, Hizbullah, etc. for one week short of six years.
I think electricity is a good one to use.
Every time a Kassam is launched, cut off the electric for that day, and close the crossing points as well for the day.
Forget about what the rest of the world is going to say. They will blame Jews anyway. You are right Dave. This should have been done years ago.
The Israeli government has made the firing of rockets into Jewish cities acceptable by not taking action. No other country in the world would accept this situation.
Stan