Olmert demands Hamas disarm
Olmert said that Israel will seek the help of the international community in efforts to persuade the Palestinian Authority to disarm Hamas, says 'Hamas is asked to disarm and abandon its pledge to destroy Israel. These are demands that the international community should present to the Palestinians'
Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert spoke with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordanian King Abdullah on Friday evening and warned that Israel will not hold talks with a Hamas-led Palestinian government.
Olmert said that Israel will seek the help of the international community in efforts to persuade the Palestinian Authority to disarm Hamas. “Hamas is asked to disarm and abandon its pledge to destroy Israel. These are demands that the international community should present to the Palestinians,” Olmert said.
King Abdullah said the Palestinians should show responsibility after Hamas’s victory. “The Palestinians need to opt for the continuation of the political process,” Abdullah said.
“Israel is very concerned with the election results in the Palestinian Authority,” Olmert told Mubarak.
Olmert said that Israel will not negotiate with Hamas.
Livni: Palestinians slammed peace chance
Mubarak told Olmert that the Egyptian government will discuss the latest developments with the Palestinian Authority next week.
Mubarak will meet Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni next week to discuss Hamas’s victory. Livni told reporters in Tel Aviv on Friday that Israel will demand the international community boycotts a Hamas-led Palestinian government. Livni added that by electing Hamas the Palestinians “slammed a window of opportunity” that opened up with Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, Palestinian sources have told Ynet that 'serious contacts' are taking place between the Hamas leadership, top PA officials, and European representatives, as part of an attempt to bring Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal to the Palestinian territories.
Hamas sees the move as an important part of its preparations to take power, and Palestinian sources said the move would moderate the organization.
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has repeated his request for Hamas to form the next PA government.
"Until now, I haven't asked anyone to form the government," Abbas told journalists in Ramallah. "We are continuing contacts with all the factions, and of course we will ask the party who won the majority to form the government," he added.
