Israel Prepares to Cut Electricity to Palestinians

Cites Inability to Pay After Withholding Palestinian Tax Money

Just days after the Israeli government announced it is seizing some $100 million in tax money from the Palestinian Authority to “punish” them for trying to join the International Criminal Courts (ICC), the Israeli state-run electric company has announced it will cut off electricity supplies to the Palestinians for non-payment.

The IEC claims the Palestinian Authority owes NIS645 million, or about $160 million, for past shipments, and that the company can’t keep sending the Palestinians electricity that they can’t pay for.

The IEC warned Israeli military and spy agencies of the planned cuts, saying it fears cutting off the electricity to PA territory would lead to “various responses by the Palestinian population.”

That’s putting it mildly, because even though the $100 million Israel stole from the Palestinians over the weekend isn’t going to the IEC, which is itself owned by the Israeli government, one can’t help but notice that is a big part of why they’re not going to be able to pay their debts.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.