(Gatestone Institute) Bassam Tawil - Many Palestinians have refused to pay their bills to the Arab-owned Jerusalem District Electricity Company (JDEC). Other Palestinians steal power from the company by directly hooking to the power line or tampering with electric meters. The JDEC purchases electricity from the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC). However, because of electricity theft and widespread non-payment, the JDEC has not been able to pay its debts. The IEC has been trying for years to collect the growing debt, but has received no payments since January 2019. When the IEC announced that it was cutting power to some villages and cities in the West Bank to pressure the Palestinians to pay their debt, the Palestinian Authority asked the international community to condemn Israel for daring to demand that they pay for the electricity they used. Apparently, Palestinians believe they have a "right" to free electricity. This is in keeping with the longstanding Palestinian perception that someone else should pay their way in the world. The controversy is yet another example of the Palestinians' unceasing search for ways to blame Israel for self-inflicted miseries.
2019-10-03 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive