Israel Update: Sunday, January 20, 2008

Israel Update:
Sunday, January 20, 2008 Archive Photo by IDF Spokesperson

* Gaza City Goes Into Darkness *

* BBC NEWS...
The only power plant in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip has started to shut down, citing lack of fuel because of Israel's closure of border crossings... The closure, imposed in the wake of continued rocket fire from Gaza, has brought the delivery of almost all supplies to a halt... But Israel, which supplies 60% of Gaza's power directly, has accused the Palestinians of exaggerating...
Israeli closure 'hits Gaza power'

* InTheNews.co.uk...
The only power plant in the Gaza Strip is reportedly a few hours from completely shutting down after an Israeli blockade exasperated fuel shortages...
Gaza power station begins to fail due to Israeli blockade

* AHN...
Gaza Strip's only electricity plant started shutting down on Sunday after Israel sealed the borders to Hamas-run territory, blocking the entry of supplies including fuel that powers the plant... Israel's Defense Ministry had closed all the shipment of basic necessities such as food and fuel into the region on Friday...
Gaza Not Prepared For Fuel Shortage As The Only Power Plant Shuts Down

* YNETNews.com...
Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter expressed a harsh reality to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Sunday, warning that “without military deterrence in Gaza, Sderot could very well collapse.”
Dichter: We must stop attacks from Gaza at all cost

* JPOST.com...
Several ministers called for the assassination of Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah at the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, one day after the guerilla leader claimed to possess the body parts of IDF soldiers who fought during the Second Lebanon War...
Ministers call to assassinate Hizbullah leader Nasrallah

* Middle East Times, Monday, January 21, 2008
The fourth day of a grueling Israeli blockade on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip Monday is threatening a humanitarian crisis that could expand the military and political conflict beyond an Israeli-Hamas confrontation... As the conflict escalated, Gaza was plunged into darkness on Sunday night after the strip's only power plant shut down when it ran out of fuel, three days after Israel sealed off all crossings and banned the entry of supplies to the territory in retaliation against Palestinians for rockets fired into nearby Israeli communities...
Israeli siege on Gaza provokes Arab rage

* Here's more from BBC News...
Defence Minister Ehud Barak agreed to ease the curbs for one day hours after the territory's sole power plant shut down, plunging Gaza City into darkness... The UN has warned food aid to about 860,000 Gaza people could be halted within days because of the blockade...
Israel to ease blockade of Gaza

> Lots of Photos at link below...
In pictures: Gaza power cuts