Israel’s state-owned electricity company announced on Wednesday, April 6, that it had restored full power to Palestinian cities in the occupied West Bank after a two-day reduction due to an outstanding debt. The Israel Electricity Corporation said that it had reached a stopgap agreement with the Palestinian Authority, which will pay about $500,000 in back debt. The company says the Palestinians owe it nearly $460 million. Israel provides electricity to the West Bank through several Palestinian distribution companies.
![The Renewable Energy Generation project in Gaza will improve the livelihoods of approximately 107,000 people, raise awareness about clean energy and lay the groundwork for energy transition – saving money, creating jobs and protecting the environment.](http://maki.org.il/en/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2016-04-11.jpg)
The Renewable Energy Generation project in Gaza will improve the livelihoods of approximately 107,000 people, raise awareness about clean energy and lay the groundwork for energy transition – saving money, creating jobs and protecting the environment (Photo: UNDP)
Joint Arab List leader MK Ayman Odeh (Hadash) helped negotiate the deal. MK Odeh said “this was a temporary Band-Aid. I am glad that after discussions with all the parties, we found a temporary compromise to resume the flow of electricity to all of the West Bank, [the interruption of] which was a prohibited and serious collective punishment.” Odeh added: “However, this issue, like all issues connected to life in the occupied territories, is only a temporary fix. There can be no permanent solutions except for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.”