By Ori Lewis
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel began cutting electrical powerto the Gaza Strip as part of a plan to sever economic ties withthe territory, an Israeli defence official said on Friday.
It is the latest in a series of Israeli steps to increasepressure on Gaza, ruled by the Hamas Islamists since June andthe source of repeated rocket attacks into the Jewish state.
A spokesman for Defence Minister Ehud Barak said Israel cut5 percent of electricity late on Thursday on one of 10high-power lines that supply the Gaza Strip.
The reduction will, at this point, translate to less than 1percent of the 124 megawatts Israel supplies for the entirecoastal territory, he said.
"This is a signal to the Palestinians that we see theirconduct in Gaza and that we want to continue the disengagementprocess. I hope they will focus their effort on getting newsources of energy instead of developing ... rockets," spokesmanShlomo Dror said.
Critics accuse Israel of imposing a blockade that amountsto "collective punishment" of the population after it cut fuelto Gaza's main power plant last month, leading to blackouts.
Israel's deputy Defence Minister Matan Vilnai said Israelis "trying to reduce the Gaza Strip's dependence on Israel inmany fields ... the High Court ruled that we are acting in acorrect and appropriate manner."
Israel, which occupied the Gaza Strip in 1967, pulledtroops and settlers out in 2005 but still controls its northernand eastern borders, airspace and coastal waters.
Apart from Israel's 124 megawatts, a local power station inGaza City produces 64 megawatts and Egypt supplies 17megawatts, Israel's defence ministry said.
Asked to comment, U.S. State Dept spokesman Tom Casey saidhe was not familiar with the Israeli decision.
"We understand Israel's right to defend itself, but we donot think that actions should be taken that would infringe uponor worsen the humanitarian situation for the civilianpopulation in Gaza," he added
Israel has stepped up military action against Hamas sinceit claimed responsibility for a Palestinian suicide bombing onMonday, the first such attack by the Islamist faction insidethe Jewish state since 2004.
BORDER
Palestinian militants blasted open the territory's borderwith Egypt last month in defiance of an Israeli blockade. Egyptre-sealed the border on Sunday.
Last month Vilnai said Israel wanted to wash its hands ofGaza altogether by handing over the supply of electricity,water and medicine to others.
Israel declared Gaza an "enemy entity" in September. The"enemy" designation was a green light for sanctions althoughIsrael said it would not inflict a humanitarian crisis onGaza's 1.5 million people.
Hamas has described militant attacks on Israel, which havealso been condemned internationally, as responses to Israelimilitary operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
On Thursday the Israeli army said troops had uncoveredunderground rocket silos in the northern Gaza Strip. Israel hasthreatened a major ground offensive into Gaza to try to end therocket salvoes.
(Editing by Robert Woodward)
