Ministers decide avoid contact with PA

The Forum of Seven Ministers has announced that it will not make any far-reaching decisions on the Fatah-Hamas unity agreement for the time being.

Meanwhile, following a series of consultations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak have decided to hold off on making any political contact with the new Palestinian government. State sources said that "if Hamas changes its ways and recognizes Israel, we'll see what happens. There will be no contacts and no negotiations until the picture becomes clearer."

(Attila Somfalvi)