Palestinians lose power

Please explain to me just why it was necessary to destroy a Palestinian power station in order to release a kidnapped soldier.

As Juan Cole points out, the Palestinians need the power station to pump drinking water, among other things. So, losing the power threatens the population with cholera.

[I also find it interesting that the Israelis always justify their over-reactions as appropriate responses to the horror of attacks on "innocent civilians," but their responses to attacks on their military (as in this case) are even more fierce.]