Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in a forum with members of the foreign media on Wednesday emphasized negotiations with the Palestinian Authority will continue until an agreement is hammered out.

The prime minister added that reports stating Israel may enter into negotiations or dialogue with Hamas are not based in fact, denying the validity of such information. Olmert stated he has not changed his policy and there will be no negotiations with Hamas.

Israel has refused to enter into official dialogue with the Hamas faction of the PA, which controls Gaza, due to ongoing terror directed at southern Israel from Gaza and the terror organization’s refusal to recognize Israel’s right to exist.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)