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PA President Mahmoud Abbas, Friday. (AP)
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Acting PM Ehud Olmert, Sunday. (AP)
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| By Israel Insider staff and partners April 9, 2006 |
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Israel will not try to negotiate a peace deal with moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas because he lost authority since Hamas' rise to power, Israel's prime minister-designate, Ehud Olmert, said in an interview published Saturday.
It marked the first time Olmert stated clearly that he will not negotiate with Abbas as long as the new Hamas government does not recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept existing peace accords.
Hamas has said repeatedly it would not revise its positions, though some leaders in the group have hinted at a readiness to moderate. Hamas took power last week, after winning January parliament elections. Abbas, who was elected separately last year, wields considerable power and is in charge of negotiations with Israel.
If Hamas refuses to change, Olmert is expected to move ahead with his unilateral plan for the West Bank, including pulling out of large parts of the territory, but annexing large Jewish settlement blocs.
Asked by The Washington Post daily how long he is prepared to wait before launching his West Bank plan, Olmert said: "If we reach the conclusion that the Palestinians are not prepared to meet the requirements that lead to negotiations, we will then move forward without a negotiating process. We are ready to change. We are not prepared to wait forever."
Olmert said peace talks would have to be conducted with the Palestinian Authority, now led by Hamas, and not with Abbas.
"Abu Mazen (Abbas) has deprived himself of all the practical authorities of government," Olmert said. "It will have to be those in government, on condition that they meet the requirements of the roadmap and the Quartet: no violence; recognition of the state of Israel; acceptance of all the former agreements that were signed by the Palestinian Authority."
Israel to set down final position on Hamas
Israel will on Sunday decide on a final policy on the Hamas-ruled Palestinian government now that the Islamic party has risen to power, Israel radio reported Saturday.
Olmert will approve a plan not to transfer Israeli funds to the Palestinian government, the radio said. Israel had in February stopped transferring to the Palestinians taxes and customs duties that it collects from Palestinian workers and merchants.
In addition, Israel will not allow Hamas government officials to travel between the Gaza Strip and West Bank, as part of the policy, the radio said.
Hamas has thus far refused to reform, although a senior official in the party said Friday that the group might be willing to consider a two-state solution - implying that Hamas could recognize the Jewish state.
AP contributed to this report.
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