TEL AVIV – The Israeli government is studying the possibility of cutting off all contacts with the Gaza Strip, including stoppage of the supply of electricity and the facilitation of goods shipments, according to senior diplomatic sources in Jerusalem speaking to WND.

The sources said Israeli officials are in talks with Egypt about handing over complete responsibility for the every-day needs of Gaza but said the Egyptians strongly contest the possibility.

"Why should we supply them (Gaza) with anything?" asked a Jerusalem official, speaking on condition his name be withheld. "They elected a terrorist entity and are firing rockets at us. We are studying continuing our disengagement from the Gaza Strip started in 2005 to include ceasing all support and responsibility."

Earlier today, Deputy Israeli Defense Minister Matan Vilnai echoed those sentiments during a radio interview, stating, "We need to understand that when Gaza is open to the other side, we lose responsibility for it. So we want to disconnect from it."

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Israel evacuated the Gaza Strip in August 2005 but continues to supply the territory with two-thirds of its electricity. It also facilitates the transport of goods, including humanitarian aid and fuel shipments from the U.N. and international community, into the territory.

Since the Israeli withdrawal, Palestinians in Gaza have been regularly launching rockets aimed at nearby Jewish communities, including at the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon, which houses the power stations that supply Gaza.

The Gaza Strip borders Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. Until now, the major crossings used for shipments into the territory were located at the Israeli-Gaza border. The territory's border with Egypt has a small crossing to allow Gazans to enter Egypt and for the passage of some trucks.

Yesterday, masked gunmen blew dozens of holes in the wall delineating the Egypt-Gaza border, destroying nearly two-thirds of the structure separating the frontier. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians reportedly poured out of Gaza and into Egypt.

Today, Egypt allowed large shipments of fuel and supplies to enter the Gaza Strip.

During phone talks with Cairo leaders, Israeli officials suggested changing the status quo, giving Egypt responsibility for Gaza's electricity and passage of supplies, diplomatic sources said.

Apparently rejecting the idea, Hossam Zaki, the official spokesman for Egypt's foreign ministry, told reporters today, "The current situation is only an exception, and for temporary reasons. The border will go back to normal."

The crisis in Gaza began last week when Palestinian terrorists fired more than 200 rockets from the Gaza Strip aimed at nearby Jewish communities. Rockets have been regularly flying from the territory since Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. But last week's increased bombardment marked an escalation that prompted widespread calls here for the Israeli government to carry out a large-scale, anti-rocket operation and ground assault in Gaza.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government instead decided to cut back fuel supplies and shipment trucks entering Gaza from the Israeli border in an effort to pressure Gaza's Hamas leadership. But Israeli officials say they continue to transfer sufficient aid and materials to the Palestinians to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and allow Gaza's power plants to run.

Still, last Sunday, Hamas unilaterally decided to shut down Gaza's only electrical plant, which supplies power to about 20 percent of Gaza, including over 400,000 people in Gaza City.

Hamas claimed it did not have enough fuel to run the plant due to Israeli cutbacks, a contention strongly contested by Israel.

Shlomo Dror, a spokesman for Israel's Defense Ministry, said Gaza has enough fuel to run its power plants and accused Palestinian officials of trying to create the impression of a crisis that did not exist.

Dror pointed out that while Israel cut back some fuel shipments, which he said would mostly affect drivers, the Jewish state continues to supply Gaza directly with two-thirds of its electricity.

Yesterday, 350,000 Palestinians reportedly poured out of Gaza and into Egypt after masked men detonated 17 bombs, destroying about two-thirds of a wall separating the Gaza Strip from Egypt.

To interview Aaron Klein, contact M. Sliwa Public Relations by e-mail, or call 973-272-2861.

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