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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Fertilizer shortages hamper rocket fire (a lesson in Gaza economics) |
| 2007-08-12 |
| Shortages in fertilizers used by Palestinian terror groups in the Gaza Strip to produce makeshift rockets have led to a decrease in the number of rockets fired towards Israel. Ynet found that Palestinian terror groups prefer to save their rockets for rainy days. But rockets continued to be fired towards Israel on Sunday, with three rockets landing in the western Negev. The shortages have been blamed on Egypt's clampdown on smugglers operating along the border with the Gaza Strip and Israel's closure of border crossings used to transfer goods into the coastal territory. The price of a kilo of fertilizer rose from $20 to $50. Palestinian activists confirmed the shortages to Ynet but said they still had large quantities of rockets stored in secret caches. "In addition to the smugglings, our people are producing a similar substitute. But the shortages also apply to materials we use to produce fertilizers and substitutes to it and therefore there is a crisis and the situation is difficult," one activist said. The shortage led Hamas gunmen to storm the Fatah-affiliated al-Azhar University where they confiscated dozens of kilos of fertilizers. Terror groups also face shortages in steel used to build the rockets. The price of a steel rod rose from NIS 120 to NIS 800. "God willing our men will find other alternatives. The most important thing is that the resistance remains unharmed. Thank God we have brilliant brains in the Strip," another activist said. |
| Posted by:phil_b |
| #12 our people are producing a similar substitute. Yeah, you do...a LOT of "similar substitute" is all that comes out of Gaza. Look for a rash of "light, knock and run" poo-bags on the Joos' front porches in 3, 2, 1... |
| Posted by: BA 2007-08-12 23:14 |
| #11 You got to remember they are using KNO3+SUCROSE for propellant. So back when there were those greenhouses it was real easy to get that nice greenhouse grade Haifa Chemical Potassium nitrate. The real fun starts with the stored ones. Sugar baby propellant ain't that storable, watch for lots of shortfalls. |
| Posted by: bruce 2007-08-12 19:00 |
| #10 The world should cut off all aid to the Palestinians immediately and this article should be cited the next time we hear about their suffering due to their "poor economy". Given the classic choice between guns and butter, they always find a way to direct their resources toward creating implements of warfare. Let them eat fertilizer. |
| Posted by: Grumenk Philalzabod0723 2007-08-12 18:29 |
| #9 Why are they using steel to make these rockets? I think it's for the shrapnel when it explodes. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2007-08-12 17:31 |
| #8 I really means this: "Let Them Starve to Death" After wards the world would be a much better place. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2007-08-12 17:02 |
| #7 Between all the wasted fertilizer and those greenhouses they smashed Hamas wouldn't have their back to wall being starved out over recognition of Israel. Instead, they just had to keep it up with the destructive genocidal horsehockey. The only fertilizer we send them should be in a premixed slurry form with shock sensitive ignitors. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-08-12 12:47 |
| #6 Heh. Not often does a Snark of the Day candidate come from the snarkees rather than the snarkers. Laughter and glittering eyes FTW. |
| Posted by: Thomas Woof 2007-08-12 12:40 |
| #5 I like moose's suggestion with an idea of SteveS. have the gaza's power the rockets with the ammonium nitrate supplemented with poo; then mix in the ammonium sulfate and you get exploding poo |
| Posted by: mhw 2007-08-12 12:13 |
| #4 The Israelis could have a great deal of sport if they could somehow get some ammonium sulfate fertilizer blended with the ammonium nitrate fertilizer. They look identical, except sulfate doesn't burn. The end result would be like mixing dirt with gunpowder. Something might happen, just not what you want to happen. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-08-12 11:51 |
| #3 Most people, especially supposedly starving people, use fertilizer to grow stuff, like, I dunno, food? Have the "brilliant brains of the Strip" ever heard of that concept? Shit, why do I even ask... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2007-08-12 11:09 |
| #2 Why are they using steel to make these rockets? Steel is a bit heavy and rockets don't need to be that durable. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2007-08-12 11:03 |
| #1 Thank God we have brilliant brains in the Strip Heh. Not often does a Snark of the Day candidate come from the snarkees rather than the snarkers. Maybe these rocket scientists can figure a way to fuel their evil toys with seething or poo, the two commodities that seem readily available in Gaza. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2007-08-12 10:37 |