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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. (Jini Archives)
Last update - 16:35 23/12/2007
Ehud Olmert rejects Hamas' offer of cease-fire in Gaza Strip
By Barak Ravid, Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: Hosni Mubarak, Hamas 

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday rejected Hamas' offer of a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, saying the government would not hold talks with the Islamist group until it recognizes Israel.

Olmert's comments came as three Qassam rockets fired by Palestinian militants struck the western Negev, causing no damage or injuries.

"The State of Israel has no interest in negotiating with entities that do not recognize the Quartet demands," said Olmert during the weekly cabinet meeting.
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The Quartet of Middle East negotiators - the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia - have demanded that Hamas recognize Israel, renounce violence, and accept previously signed agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

"Whoever accepts the Quartet principles will, in principle, be a partner for negotiations," Olmert said. "Whoever isn't willing to do so, to our regret, cannot be a partner for dialogue with us. This policy will not change."

"Our security forces have for months conducted numerous operations in the Gaza Strip, in order to reduce to a minimum the Qassam rocket fire, which has plagued the residents of the South, and in order to target those responsible for the Qassam fire," the prime minister added.

"The operations against terrorist groups will continue as it has been for months," he continued. "There is no way to describe what is taking place there other than as a real war between the IDF and terrorist groups."

"This war will continue, while making sure to avoid a humanitarian crisis that could harm civilians who are not at all involved in terrorism," said Olmert. "This policy requires patience and resiliency."

Defense Minister Ehud Barak briefed the cabinet ministers on security developements in Gaza and, contrary to Olmert, hinted at the possibility of a cease-fire with Hamas.

"If they stop firing, we won't be opposed to quiet," the defense minister said. "Hamas' consideration of a hudna [truce] stems from our effective operations and targeted killings."

Barak added that "there is no basis for political negotiations with Hamas if we want a continuation of Annapolis and a state in the foreseeable future. Hamas needs to be brought down, not saved."

Barak also said that, "In Israel's eyes, the Quartet's conditions- recognition of Israel and an end to terror and recognizing previous agreements- are all valid."

Hamas spokesmen and officials have made conflicted statements in recent days on the group's willingess to accept a cease fire. On Sunday, the organization did not rule out a future cease-fire if Israel first stops "all forms of aggression" against the Gaza Strip.

"If the occupation commits itself to stopping all forms of aggression against our people, only then the factions may discuss this issue," Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said. "But until then, there is no discussion among the factions over a calm."

Barak, Mubarak to discuss truce, Shalit in Egypt Wednesday

Defense Minister Ehud Barak is scheduled to meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesday to discuss efforts to reach a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas.

On his one-day visit, Barak will also meet with intelligence chief Omar Suleiman and Defense Minister Mohammed Tantawi.

The two sides will also discuss the problem of arms smuggling from Egypt into the Gaza Strip and the negotiations to secure the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who is being held in Gaza.

This will be Barak's first visit to Egypt since taking office last June. Several attempts were made over the past few months to arrange such a visit, which was repeatedly delayed. Israeli defense officials said that a time has not been confirmed for the meeting at Sharm el-Sheikh.

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      1.   2 Quassams today 02:23  |  Edifice 23/12/07
      2.   Hamas wants truce but 02:36  |  dovale 23/12/07
      3.   Qassam rocket, second on Saturday 02:51  |  vik 23/12/07
      4.   Barak 04:31  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 23/12/07
      5.   Barak, while he`s at it should discuss 04:40  |  * BEN JABO 23/12/07
      6.   cant stop the qassams but dont th9ink syria can hit dimonna? 04:45  |  hahahahahha :) 23/12/07
      7.   Is Barak being set up? 05:53  |  Mark Lincoln 23/12/07
      8.   NO to Egypt bossing crap 06:26  |  Brod 23/12/07
      9.   Keep the pressure on Hamas 06:26  |  Marwan مروان خوري 23/12/07
      10.   To speed up the Hudna 08:19  |  Ricardo 23/12/07
      11.   # 5 Israel Controls the other side of the border 08:27  |  Adel 23/12/07
      12.   Typical Israeli Thinking - Never Lose Opportunity to Lose Opportu 11:17  |  1 state solution 23/12/07
      13.   The Operations Will Continue 11:19  |  Robert 23/12/07
      14.   Hamas does not want peace with Israel 11:41  |  Joe Sittizen 23/12/07
      15.   pm olmert 11:44  |  george 23/12/07
      16.   A Rejected Offer 11:47  |  Clickfool 23/12/07
      17.   7. Mark Lincoln: Who failed to honor the accords 11:50  |  KUTW 23/12/07
      18.   Addendum to "as said"... 11:50  |  Esther 23/12/07
      19.   12. state solution: Which opportunity? 11:52  |  KUTW 23/12/07
      20.   Olmert talk peace to the world but make war 12:51  |  Dav 23/12/07
      21.   Reason? 12:59  |  Matthew Houston 23/12/07
      22.   zionist depends on war to keep criminals in power 13:20  |  truth 23/12/07
      23.   To Clickfool #16 13:21  |  dovale 23/12/07
      24.   Empty pride 13:26  |  sh 23/12/07
      25.   to dav #20 13:29  |  dovale 23/12/07
      26.   such hypocrisy 13:37  |  Hilda 23/12/07
      27.   To sh #24 13:39  |  dovale 23/12/07
      28.   to our Sault St. Marie, Mich. poster 13:42  |  Hilda 23/12/07
      29.   7 Mark Lincoln,this is not about the 3 stooges,this is about 13:44  |  lakshmi 23/12/07
      30.   to the Click fool 13:51  |  Hilda 23/12/07
      31.   # 25 the same could be said about israeli 13:52  |  Kris 23/12/07
      32.   more for Click the fool #16 14:04  |  Hilda 23/12/07
      33.   The quartett is ridiculous 14:10  |  Fritz Teich 23/12/07
      34.   Bravo Olmert! 14:10  |  Nechama 23/12/07
      35.   Dav-And Whos Fault is That? 14:17  |  Jane 23/12/07
      36.   "efforts to reach a temporary truce"(2nd try) 15:11  |  KUTW 23/12/07
      37.   In the Alice Through the Looking Glass world of Israel 15:17  |  Clickfool 23/12/07
      38.   Little dov 15:30  |  sh 23/12/07
      39.   A non-rejection rejection 15:36  |  Tosefta 23/12/07
      40.   # 32 Hilda. 15:42  |  Stephen 23/12/07
      41.   Iakshmi # 29 Hamas` Offer 15:43  |  Jeff Northridge 23/12/07
      42.   A non-rejection rejection (2nd try) 16:06  |  Tosefta 23/12/07
      43.   Clickfool. "Kaching" 16:18  |  Peter 23/12/07
      44.   To Clickfool #37 16:19  |  dovale 23/12/07
      45.   #37 clickfool looks too far away for alice 16:28  |  victor hardman 23/12/07
      46.   Dav # 20 What Are You Gripping About? 16:36  |  Jeff Northridge 23/12/07
      47.   More blaming the vicitms & game playing from the tyrants inIsrael 16:40  |  Dutch 23/12/07
      48.   Clickfool #37 Is Of Course FAKE 16:41  |  Clickfool 23/12/07
      49.   (In ref. to:#16) Hamas-Party no longer is an intl. accepted rep. 16:45  |  AliciaYasmeen 23/12/07
      50.   sounds good to me...z 16:51  |  dav zee 23/12/07
      51.   Hamas should contnue to barrage Sderot with Qassams 16:53  |  Dutch 23/12/07
      52.   `hand held out in peace` indeed. why no recognition? 16:59  |  frenz 23/12/07
      53.   #7 Mark Lincoln. 17:05  |  Stephen. 23/12/07
      54.   Dutch ..playing with other people`s lives 17:10  |  Lynn 23/12/07
      55.   to (sh(tinker) #38 17:11  |  dovale 23/12/07
      56.   Hamas is weakened & needs to re-arm 17:16  |  Barney Panofsky 23/12/07
      57.   On Clickfool And Alice 17:22  |  Natan 23/12/07
      58.   #51 Dutch the Dunce 17:29  |  Murray of Montreal 23/12/07
      59.   Ignore the fools 17:31  |  Barney Panofsky 23/12/07
      60.   NEWS: HAMAS BOMBS ISRAEL.OLMERT STOPS BOMBING TERRORISTS & 17:43  |  Alon chiloni 23/12/07
      61.   Dutch 17:50  |  Stash 23/12/07
      62.   Two Faced ISRAEL 18:11  |  DoubleClick 23/12/07
      63.   Annihilate anyone associated with hamas, WWII style 18:14  |  Johnny 23/12/07
      64.   60. alone chillin` 18:17