Israeli Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan. Photo: Maxine Dovere.

In light of an expected electricity shortage this summer, Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan (Likud) suggested Sunday that Israel cut off electricity to Gaza, thus conserving 4 percent of its energy consumption.

Speaking to Army Radio, Erdan also suggested possibly cutting off the supply of electricity to Palestinians in Judea and Samaria.

Army Radio reported that Erdan had issued a letter on this issue to cabinet ministers ahead of the weekly cabinet meeting Sunday, during which the ministers were set to discuss possible solutions to the electricity shortage.

Israel’s electricity rates have recently soared—rising by 8.9 percent—due to a shortage of natural gas. Israel had relied on a natural gas supply from Egypt in recent years, but the supply dwindled (due to multiple terror attacks on the pipeline) until it finally stopped altogether when Egypt unilaterally revoked its gas deal with Israel last month.