PA, Israel sign deal to boost WB electricity

GAZA CITY - 11 July 2017: Israel Electric Corp and the Palestinian Authority signed an agreement on Monday to boost Israeli electrical supply to the West Bank (WB), even as Gaza endures daily blackouts in a Palestinian political dispute, said Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post.

Under the deal, a new electrical substation was inaugurated near the West Bank city of Jenin. Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and Israeli Energy Ministry Yuval Steinitz cut the red ribbon in a show of Israeli-Palestinian cooperation, three years after peace talks collapsed.

The facility will transmit 60 megawatts of electricity purchased from the Israel Electric Corp (IEC), officials said.

The West Bank is dependent on Israeli electricity and the internationally-funded substation is one of four that will be operated in the area by a Palestinian Authority-owned transmission company.