OLMERT: NO TRUCE WITH HAMAS

Olmert rules out Hamas truce (JTA)
Ehud Olmert ruled out any truce between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli prime minister on Sunday quashed talks of a possible cease-fire with the ruling Palestinian Islamist faction in Gaza, reaffirming international demands that Hamas first unilaterally foreswear terrorism and accept the Jewish state.

"The State of Israel has no interest in negotiating with those that refuse to accept the basic principles of the Quartet," Olmert told his Cabinet.

"This applies to Hamas, Islamic Jihad and anyone else. He who accepts the Quartet principles is a negotiating partner, but he who is not ready to accept them is no partner and our policy will not change."

Israel stepped up deadly airstrikes against Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists last week following a surge of rocket and mortar attacks from Gaza. That prompted Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas' top leader in Gaza, to offer truce talks with the Olmert government. Some members of Olmert's Cabinet said the overture should be considered, while others said a truce would only allow Hamas to rearm and regroup.

"This war will continue," Olmert told his Cabinet, referring to the Gaza offensive.

Olmert: No Talks with Hamas Until It Recognizes Israel - Barak Ravid, Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff
Prime Minister Olmert told the cabinet Sunday that the government would not hold talks with Hamas until it recognizes Israel. "The State of Israel has no interest in negotiating with entities that do not recognize the Quartet demands," he said. The Quartet of Middle East negotiators has demanded that Hamas recognize Israel, renounce violence, and accept previously signed agreements between Israel and the PA. "Whoever accepts the Quartet principles will, in principle, be a partner for negotiations....Whoever isn't willing to do so, to our regret, cannot be a partner for dialogue with us. This policy will not change." (Ha'aretz)