[NYTr] Ceasefire? No Thanks! Israel Rules out Negotiations with Hamas

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

[See also Uri Avnery's Dec 22 column, "Help! A Ceasefire!"
http://blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/Week-of-Mon-20071217/073321.html

Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com

Israel Rules out Negotiations with Hamas

Tel Aviv, Dec 23 (Prensa Latina) Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on
Sunday ruled out cease-fire talks with the Islamic Resistance Movement,
Hamas, and called true war the current situation in Gaza Strip, where
the Tel Aviv army often carries out offensives.

In his speech at the weekly session of the Ministers Council, Ehud
Olmert said that operations against that Palestinian region will
continue as they have been conducted for many months until Hamas
accepts the conditions of the Quartet for the Middle East.

That group, formed by the US, the European Union, the UN, and Russia,
demands the Islamic Movement recognize Israel, lay down its weapons,
and accept the agreements signed between the Palestinian Liberation
Organization and Tel Aviv.

"Those who are not willing to accept that policy can not be talk
partners," said Olmert.

The Israeli prime minister said that there is no other way to describe
what is happening in the Gaza Strip except as a true war between the
Israeli army and the Palestinian resistance factions, and his cabinet
has no interest in changing that strategy and stop incursions.

ef ajs jcd PL-13