In Israel and the Occupied Territories, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has approved new sanctions on the Gaza Strip including severe disruptions to its power supply. Israel provides 60 percent of the electricity for Gaza’s one-and-a-half million Palestinians. Israel has argued it’s no longer bound by international law governing treatment of occupied populations following its designation of Gaza as a “hostile” territory last month. Israel says it’s taking the steps to counter Palestinian rocket fire. But the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz is reporting top Israeli defense officials believe the new measures will actually intensify rocket attacks from Palestinian militants. The power cuts are seen as a way to lay ground for both a major military assault on Gaza as well as further isolation that limits Israel’s humanitarian obligations.