Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JERUSALEM2216
2008-12-09 15:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:  

GAZA: SOME SUPPLIES ENTER; COOKING GAS IN GAZA NOT

Tags:  ECON EAID PHUM KWBG ETRD IS 
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VZCZCXRO2010
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #2216 3441547
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 091547Z DEC 08
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3483
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002216 

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND NEA/IPA; PRM FOR PRM/ANE; NSC FOR
PASCUAL; PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2013
TAGS: ECON EAID PHUM KWBG ETRD IS
SUBJECT: GAZA: SOME SUPPLIES ENTER; COOKING GAS IN GAZA NOT
DISTRIBUTED DUE TO FEAR OF VIOLENCE

REF: JERUSALEM 2201

Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002216

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND NEA/IPA; PRM FOR PRM/ANE; NSC FOR
PASCUAL; PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2013
TAGS: ECON EAID PHUM KWBG ETRD IS
SUBJECT: GAZA: SOME SUPPLIES ENTER; COOKING GAS IN GAZA NOT
DISTRIBUTED DUE TO FEAR OF VIOLENCE

REF: JERUSALEM 2201

Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (SBU) Summary: An estimated 60 truckloads of food and
humanitarian shipments entered Gaza on December 9, according
to UN contacts. The Nahal Oz fuel station transferred two
days of power plant fuel and 200 tons of cooking gas on
December 9. The cooking gas has not yet been distributed to
the public, due to fears of violence at points of sale,
according to fuel sector executives in Gaza. The power plant
shut down on December 7, after running at half power for less
than two days, and remains down on December 9. End summary.


Limited shipments of food, medicine, and fuel
--------------


2. (SBU) UN OCHA contacts reported that 40 truckloads of
food and humanitarian supplies transferred to Gaza on
December 9 at the Kerem Shalom crossing, and 20 truckloads of
grains and animal food were transferred via Karni/al-Mintar's
conveyer belt. The Nahal Oz fuel station transferred an
estimated 450,000 liters (two days' supply) of industrial
fuel for the power plant on December 9, according to power
plant contacts. These are the first imported fuel shipments
to Gaza since December 3.

Cooking gas deliveries in Gaza
too dangerous, given extreme demand
--------------


3. (C) Gaza fuel sector executive Mahmoud Khozandar told
Econoff that 200 tons of cooking gas entered Gaza on December

9. He said gas station owners have refused to distribute the
limited amount of cooking gas out of fear that extreme
shortages will trigger violence at the point of sale. He
said the gas is being stored in Gaza near Nahal Oz station.

Gaza power plant down
--------------


4. (C) Gaza power plant Chief Engineer Rafiq Maliha told
Econoff that the plant received nearly two days of industrial
fuel (350,000 liters) on December 9. Contrary to prior
reporting, Maliha said that the plant operated at partial
capacity on December 5-7, before it ran out of fuel for the
fourth time in recent weeks. Maliha said if enough fuel is
received on December 9, he would attempt to start one turbine
that produces 20 MW of electricity.

UNRWA cash assistance remains suspended
--------------


5. (SBU) UNRWA reports that it continues to distribute food
rations to 750,000 Palestinian refugees in Gaza, but its cash
assistance program remains suspended (since Nov 20),due to
banks' shortage of shekels. They add that the absence of
shekels is affecting UNRWA's elementary school food programs.


WALLES