During a Kadima faction meeting on Monday, Kadima minister and vice premier Chaim Ramon attacked party leader Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, senior party official Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Labor leader Defense Minister Ehud Barak. Ramon accused them of acting in absolute defiance of the government decision not to engage in dialogue with Hamas, stating in actuality, talks and contact with the terror organization is ongoing.

Ramon stated the government decided that contacts cannot take place with the terror organization until such time Hamas accepts the conditions set forth by The Quarter, namely; accepting Israel’s right to exist, a total cessation of attacks and an acceptance of all agreements signed to date between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Ramon stated the talks being conducted by the three most senior ministers with Egyptian Intelligence Chief General Omar Suleiman in essence are talks with Hamas via an intermediary.

Ramon stated we cannot continue living with a “Hamastine on our southern border,” demanding the government give the IDF a free hand to deal with the escalated Gaza-based warfare as necessary.

Regarding Shalit, Ramon stated he is among the moderates, stating the efforts towards obtaining the release of the captive IDF soldier is a “humanitarian issue” and this cannot be confused with the issues surrounding the need to bring an end to the Gaza-based warfare.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)