Acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced on Monday that he was willing to negotiate a future peace agreement with the Palestinian Authority on the condition that Hamas not be part of the Palestinian government.
"As long as it doesn't contain a Hamas government, we will speak and cooperate with the [PA] with caution and responsibility - with the intention of strengthening those who acknowledge the right of Israel to live without terror and within safe borders," Olmert said, according to Haaretz.
"We will not play into the hands of extremists who want to create a nonstop war here," he added.
Olmert added, "Anyone who tries to carry out terror attacks, fire Qassams, send suicide bombers - we will reach him wherever he is and strike him everywhere."
Earlier, prominent Hamas leader Moussa Abu Marzouk announced during talks in Cairo that the Islamic Resistance Movement would respect previous agreements which leaders in the Palestinian Authority made with Israel in an attempt to build a strong, inclusive Palestinian government.
Marzouk, who is considered the right-hand man to Hamas' political leader Khaled Mashaal, added that the group reserved the right to terminate deals it felt were illogical to the Palestinian cause, according to the AP.
"If the agreements contradict logic and rights, there are legal measures to be taken ... There are no eternal agreements," he said.
Marzouk made the comments as Hamas leaders gathered in Cairo to discuss the future of the Palestinian Authority and cooperation between Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party.
Earlier, Prince Turki Al Faisal, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States, had said that Hamas would have to abide by prior agreements as it led the Palestinian people.
"Everyone who will be in the Palestinian leadership will have to get used to a new way of life," he said, according to CNN.
"There is a road map on the table and there is King Abdullah's peace plan." he added.
Faisal said that Hamas could not escape reality, according to Ynet, and that it would have to talk to the Israeli occupier.
He also added that as long as an interim government is in place, Saudi payments to the Palestinians was not in question.
Saudi Arabia provides the Palestinians with some $200 million through the Arab League, while a higher sum is also supplied through institutions of the United Nations.
© 2006 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
