Israel Firm Cuts Palestinian Gas Supplies

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 that has followed Hamas' rise to power.

An end to fuel supplies for the West Bank and Gaza could cripple hospitals, halt food deliveries and keep people home from work â?? 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 â?? 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.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060510/...NlYwMlJVRPUCUl

U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney aimed some tough talk at Russia Thursday, saying the country should not try to use its oil and gas supplies as "tools of intimidation and blackmail" to bully its neighbours.
http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/nation...ey-russia.html

I wonder what he'll say about Israel doing the same thing?