Settlers sell Palestinians fuel
Hundreds of Palestinian drivers queue at petrol station in Kiriyat Arba, near Hebron, as petrol shortages hit PA; IDF makes exception allowing Palestinian cars to enter Israeli-controlled area
With the Palestinian Authority hit by severe fuel shortages, hundreds of Palestinian drivers, most of them taxi drivers, have been flocking lately to an Israeli petrol station near the Kiriyat Arba settlement bloc.
The PA Petrol Authority said Dor-Alon cut fuel supplies, but the claims have not been confirmed. Ynet has learned that senior Palestinian officials turned to international peace brokers to pressure Israel to roll back it decision.
Cars lining up at petrol station
Palestinians are denied access to settlement areas controlled by Israel, but the severity of the crisis prompted the security establishment to break its own regulations.
Business at the station is usually slow as its clientele is limited to Kiriyat Arba settlers, but lately Palestinian cars could be seen lined up from hundreds of meters away.
'There is no choice'
Hussein, 32, of Hebron, told Ynet that he and other drivers have not been given permission to enter the station. He said fuel prices at Israeli stations are costlier than in the PA.
"When there are shortages, there is no choice," he said.
He added that the decision to allow Palestinian drivers access to the station is by no means a goodwill gesture.
"The settlers are not doing us a favor. They are making good money on our account. In my opinion, the station had more customers in a week than a whole year," he said.
