ISRAELI FIRM HALTS FREE FUEL TO P.A.

Israeli fuel firm halts Palestinian gas supply
NABLUS, West Bank - Palestinian gas stations began shutting down and motorists lined up at pumps after an Israeli fuel company cut off deliveries Wednesday, deepening the humanitarian crisis in the West Bank and Gaza Strip that has followed Hamas’ rise to power.

An end to fuel supplies could cripple hospitals, halt food deliveries and keep people home from work — a devastating scenario for an economy already ravaged by Israeli and international sanctions.

Dor Energy, the Israeli company that has been the sole fuel provider to the Palestinians since interim peace agreements were signed in the mid-1990s, cited growing debts for its decision, Palestinian officials said. Dor officials declined comment, but the company had threatened to cut off supplies twice before this year — only to be paid at the last minute by the Palestinians.

Asaf Shariv, a spokesman for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said Israel would “absolutely not” bail out the Palestinians. Shariv said that since the Palestinian government resells gasoline to consumers, there is no reason for it not to have money to pay its debts.

But Palestinian officials said their cash-strapped government is one of the biggest users of gasoline and unable to pay the bill.

Mujahid Salame, head of the Palestinian petrol authority, predicted fuel supplies would run out in many areas by Thursday. “If this happens, there will be a humanitarian crisis,” he said.

CUE THE VIOLIN MUSIC AND THE CARPING ABOUT ISRAEL CONTRIBUTING TO THE "HUMANITARIAN CRISIS" FACING THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. SORRY, FOLKS BUT THE PALESTINIANS HAVE MADE A DECISION: THEY WOULD RATHER SPEND THEIR MONEY ON BOMBS THAN ON FUEL. THEY DON'T PAY FOR THE FUEL, THEY DON'T GET IT. WHY SHOULD ISRAEL SEND FREE FUEL TO PEOPLE SO THOSE PEOPLE CAN USE THE MONEY SAVED TO TRY TO KILL JEWISH CHILDREN? YOU WANT FUEL, PAY FOR IT. YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT, DON'T SPEND ALL YOUR MONEY ON THE TOOLS OF DEATH. HAVE A NICE DAY.