Israel/Gaza

      Defense Minister Ehud Barak authorized the transfer of a limited amount of fuel to Gaza on Monday – mostly diesel for power stations – after receiving complaints from the Strip on numerous blackouts due to a lack of fuel. However Barak ordered the goods crossings to remain closed on Tuesday in response to the recent rocket attacks from Gaza. Palestinian sources reported earlier that fuel shortages were forcing Gaza's main power station to shut down, causing blackouts throughout the Strip. The shortage resulted from the closing down of the fuel terminals as a response to the rocket attacks that pounded southern Israel in recent days.

Since 4 November, Palestinian terrorists in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip have fired 60 Kassam rockets and 20 mortar bombs at Israel. Israel's response to the continuing barrage was to temporarily close the truck crossing points used to deliver humanitarian goods and fuel to the Gaza Strip. Hamas has decided to exploit the situation, threatening to shut down Gaza's main power station, for the benefit of the media. Israel is committed to maintaining the state of calm and expects the Hamas to uphold its commitments – cessation of terrorism and the arms buildup. Overall responsibility for the situation in the Gaza Strip, and the suffering of the residents in particular, lies with Hamas alone. Hamas invests all of its resources in arms and terrorism instead of health, education and economy of the Gaza residents. In the last few days, Hamas has been conducting a series of terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians that includes:the firing of dozens of rockets and mortar bombs at civilian population centers, creating a serious threat to a quarter of a million Israelis living in this area planning the abduction of Israeli soldiers and civilians from Israeli soil and digging a tunnel for that purpose, the continued smuggling of huge amounts of arms into the Gaza Strip. (00,29)