The Attorney General's office has approved, in principle, a method by which electricity can be reduced to Gaza in response to Kassams, without causing humanitarian problems.  It is not certain whether the goal of deterring rocket launchers will be met either.

According to the new plan, which was drawn up by the Defense Ministry, Israel will reduce the amount of electricity sent over to Gaza - while the Gazans will have to decide where and when to direct it.  Thus, Israel will not be able to blamed for stopping electricity to hospitals and the like.

Israel's Cabinet decided three weeks ago to approve electricity sanctions on Gaza in response to constant Kassam rocket attacks on the Ashkelon, Sderot and the western Negev.  Shortly afterwards, however, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz ordered the decision suspended until it could be ascertained that electricity reductions would not cause humanitarian problems to the civilian population in Gaza.

Instead of blacking-out specific neighborhoods from where Kassams are fired, Israel will now use "electric current limiters" to simply cut down on the amount of megawatts flowing to the entire Gaza Strip.  Local Hamas government officials will then choose how to distribute the electricity and when. 

Ten high-voltage lines currently carry electricity to Gaza from Israel's power stations, providing a total of 62.5% of Gaza's total electricity consumption.  Nearly 30% is provided by Gaza's power plant, using Israeli-supplied fuel, and the remainder comes from Egypt.

Deputy Attorney General Mike Blass has signed his approval of the plan "in principle," but has asked for several changes.  For one thing, he believes that Hamas should receive more than the 48 hours' advance notice that is currently called for before electricity reductions.

In addition, Blass says spare parts for generators and transformers be allowed in to Gaza, in order to enable the residents there to produce their own electricity.  Blass also wants a detailed plan to be prepared, including the framework for follow-up, regular reports, and overall responsibility.

The final details of the plan are therefore still being ironed out.

Uncertainty as to its Effectiveness

Defense Ministry officials contacted by NRG-Maariv expressed satisfaction that Kassam rockets will soon be met by a clear response from Israel.  With advance notice of more than 48 hours, however, and well-planned brown-outs distributed at the most convenient hours, it is not certain that the electricity cut-backs will in fact deter Kassam rocket launching cells.

MK Yuval Shteinitz of the Likud proposed over two months ago that the Color Red rocket warning alert be synchronized with Israel's electricity supply.  His plan was that whenever the warning alert sounds because of a Kassam rocket on the way to Sderot or elsewhere in the Negev, the electricity to Gaza should be cut off for an hour or two.  Ministers Ehud Barak, Chaim Ramon, Chaim Vilnai and many others have also expressed opposition to supplying electricity to areas from which rockets are fired at Israel.