Israel nixes solar energy for Palestinians

In this photo taken Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, a Palestinian woman and children walk in front of solar panels in the Al-Thala community, north of the West Bank city of Hebron. Electricity from solar panels and wind turbines has revolutionized life in Palestinian herding communities that Israel won't connect to the grid: machines instead of sticks churn goat milk into butter, refrigerators store food that used to spoil and children no longer have to hurry to get their homework done before dark. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

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\http://news.yahoo.com/israel-nixes-solar-energy-palestinians-063945036.html

AL-THALA, West Bank (AP) — Electricity from solar panels and wind turbines has revolutionized life in rural Palestinian herding communities: Machines, instead of hands, churn goat milk into butter, refrigerators store food that used to spoil and children no longer have to hurry to get their homework done before dark.

But the German-funded project, initiated by Israeli volunteers, is now in danger. Israeli authorities are threatening to demolish the installations in six of the 16 remote West Bank communities being illuminated by alternative energy, arguing the panels and turbines were installed without permits.

The German government has expressed concern and asked for clarifications — a rare show of displeasure from Israel's staunchest defender in Europe.

The dispute is more than just a diplomatic row. It goes to the core of mounting international criticism of Israel's policies in the 62 percent of the West Bank that remain under full Israeli control two decades after Palestinians were granted self-rule in a patchwork of territorial islands in the rest of the land.

The division of jurisdictions was meant to be temporary, but has been frozen in place as repeated peace talks deadlocked. The Palestinians claim all the West Bank, along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, for a state.

International monitors have warned that Israel is suppressing Palestinian development in the West Bank sector under its full control, known as "Area C," while giving preferential treatment to Israeli settlements. Most of the international community considers Israel's settlements in the West Bank illegal.

Israel's more than 300,000 settlers are already double the number of Palestinians in Area C, which would form the heart of any Palestinian state....READ MORE