Israel makes small cut in Gaza's electricity supply

JERUSALEM-Israel said on Friday it had cut electricity supplies to Gaza as part of a campaign against militant attacks but stressed the reduction was minimal, amid international criticism.It is the latest Israeli step to increase pressure on Gaza, ruled by Hamas Islamists since June, and follows Hamas's claim of responsibility for a suicide bombing in southern Israel on Monday, the first claimed by the group since 2004.Israeli Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said Hamas wanted to provoke Israeli forces into going back into the Gaza Strip but that he preferred using "economic measures".Shlomo Dror, spokesman for Defense Minister Ehud Barak, said Israel trimmed the flow of electricity overnight by 5 percent on one of 10 high-power lines. The reduction amounted to less than 1 percent of the 124 megawatts that Israel supplies to Gaza.Israel said its goal in reducing the electricity supply was to disconnect gradually from the coastal territory, which Hamas Islamists seized by force after routing secular Fatah forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.Dror said more cuts could be made after further evaluation."This is a signal to the Palestinians that we see their conduct in Gaza and that we want to continue the disengagement process. I hope they will focus their effort on getting new sources of energy instead of developing ... rockets," Dror said.At least 36 rockets and mortars were fired at southern Israel from Gaza on Friday, an Israeli army spokeswoman said, causing damage and minor injuries....
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As in the days of Noah....