From the Liveblog of
Monday, April 4, 2016
Palestinians say Bethlehem power cut came without warning
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GooglePalestinian officials claim that Israelis gave them no prior warning of a power cut to Bethlehem Monday, saying they were only told about pending power cuts to Ramallah and al-Bireh, according to the Ma’an news agency.
Israel cut some power to Bethlehem earlier in the day. It’s scheduled to come back online at 6, as part of a measure meant to pressure the PA and Palestinian power provider to pay a massive debt to the Israel Electric Corporation.
Bethlehem Mayor Issam Juha tells Ma’an that the municipality was not warned that the cut would take place.
The IEC says that the Palestinian authorities have racked up a debt of 1.74 billion shekels ($460 million). Israel has thus far continued to provide electricity out of concern for the Palestinian population. But the company said it could no longer absorb the debt and was taking measures to stop it from growing further.
It says it will continue to cut power in other places over the next two weeks.
— with AP
The Times of Israel Community.