Israeli power grid not to last in war with Hezbollah, Noga CEO says
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The Israeli occupation admits that its power grid would not last in a war with Hezbollah, with the head of the entity's electricity company admitting that a war would devastate 'Israel'.
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An Israeli firefighter works to extinguish a fire burning in an area near the community of Ramot Naftali, by the border with Lebanon, northern occupied Palestine, June 4, 2024 (AP)
Shaul Goldstein, the CEO of Noga, the Electricity System Management Company, warned that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah could easily knock out "Israel's" electricity grid, plunging the occupation regime into darkness.
"When I took on my role, I started examining what the real threat to the electricity sector is. I asked the following: Suppose a missile hits a power facility, causing a power outage for one hour, two hours, three hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, and so on. What will happen to Israel in such a situation? The bottom line is that after 72 hours, life in Israel would be impossible," he said.
His comments have drawn sharp criticism from all walks of Israeli life, including Meir Spiegler, the director general of the Israel Electric Corporation. Spiegler condemned Goldstein's statements as "irresponsible, detached from reality, and causing unnecessary panic among the public." He suggested that Goldstein should focus on managing Noga, which has seen a decline since his tenure began.
Israeli Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen sought to reassure the public following Goldstein's alarming predictions.
"Israel will not be in darkness. The likelihood of such a scenario is low," Cohen stated, emphasizing that the government was preparing for all possible scenarios, conducting discussions and assessments, and has invested billions of shekels to ensure a stable and regular energy supply to all Israeli citizens.
However, Cohen's reassurances did not go unchallenged, as he faced ridicule from Israeli commentators on social media, questioning the government's preparedness and transparency on the matter.
Gal Hen, Channel 12's economic affairs commentator, weighed in on the debate, noting that while the Electric Corporation is not responsible for the entire electricity market, Goldstein, as the head of Noga, is indeed in a position to understand the threats and vulnerabilities of the sector.
Hen added that both the security and military establishments were well aware of the potential threats to the electricity infrastructure.
Goldstein himself backtracked somewhat, acknowledging that his initial remarks might have been overly alarmist. "I said irresponsible things," he admitted in a follow-up statement, clarifying that his intent was to highlight the importance of preparedness in the face of potential threats.
Noga cannot endure blackout
Noga advised in April Israeli settlers to install solar energy systems on the roofs of houses for routine use, and also to supply them with electricity in emergency situations.
The head of the company, in an interview with the Israeli Channel 14, presented a scenario simulating an escalation with Lebanon, including power outages for hours in most settlements, suggesting that targeted strikes could lead to a complete electricity supply crisis.
The channel noted that Noga is allegedly "one of the most protected facilities in Israel" and is supposed to operate under difficult circumstances and allow continuous power supply throughout the days of the war, even in the worst-case scenarios.
Moreover, the channel added that the fall of tens of thousands of rockets, including precision rockets, would bring destruction to parts of "Israel", which is the most widespread scenario being envisioned in the Israeli security establishment regarding the war with Hezbollah.
On the other hand, the general manager of Noga acknowledged that "Israel" cannot withstand hours of blackout, adding that it must prepare for the worst. "We do not know what Hezbollah is planning."
60% of Israelis without power
Moreover, two months earlier, Israeli channel Kan 11's website released a report by its political affairs correspondent, Michael Shemesh, unveiling recordings of the Israeli Minister of Health cautioning about an unprecedented scenario—an extended power outage across all regions, a situation never before experienced by "Israel".
The report stated that this scenario for the Israeli Emergency Authority is “a very detailed overview of what could happen in Israel if an all-out war broke out on the northern front with Lebanon.”
As reported by the Israeli channel, "Israel" is preparing for multiple power outages affecting over 60% of its regions, each lasting approximately 48 hours. Moreover, local power disruptions are anticipated to last up to three weeks.
