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Israeli PM rules out talks with Palestinian coalition

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday ruled out peace talks with the Palestinians, saying contacts will be limited to humanitarian issues until the new coalition government explicitly renounces violence and recognizes Israel's right to exist.

Olmert made the comments a day after the rival Hamas and Fatah movements installed their new unity government in hopes of persuading the international community to end its isolation of the Palestinian Authority and lift a year of bruising economic sanctions.

Israeli officials are concerned the tough international stance against the Palestinians could crumble in the face of the new Palestinian government. Norway immediately recognized the new coalition on Saturday and announced it would lift sanctions. Britain and the UN also signaled flexibility, while the US reacted coolly.

While the coalition's platform is more moderate than that of the previous Hamas-led government, Olmert said it fell short of international demands to renounce violence, recognize Israel and accept past peace deals. He also noted its affirmation of the right to "resistance."

"We can't maintain contact with the government or its ministers when you consider that this is a government that does not accept the conditions of the international community and sees terror as a legitimate goal," Olmert told his Cabinet.

Olmert said he would maintain contact with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who was separately elected and is not a member of the coalition government. But Olmert said the discussions would be limited to "quality of life" issues, such as improving living conditions for Palestinians.

The Cabinet overwhelmingly endorsed Olmert's position -- 19 to 2 in a vote -- Israeli radio stations reported.

With direct peace talks with the Palestinians apparently off the table, some Israeli officials have begun urging wider negotiations with the Arab world.

Cabinet minister Meir Sheetrit called for Israel to begin negotiations based on a 2002 Saudi plan offering peace between Israel and Arab countries. He urged Olmert to travel to an upcoming Arab summit where the plan is expected to be revived.

"I recommend that the prime minister go all the way with the move," Sheetrit said ahead of yesterday's Cabinet meeting.

Olmert has said he would "seriously" consider the Saudi plan, despite Israeli misgivings.

The new Palestinian foreign minister, Ziad Abu Amr, urged Israel to cooperate with the new government, saying there was a new opportunity to establish cooperative ties. Speaking to Israel Radio, he dismissed the calls for formal recognition of Israel as "semantics."

The new Palestinian administration replaced a year-old government led by Hamas, the anti-Israel Islamic militant group that has killed dozens of Israelis in suicide bombings.

Hamas' rise to power last year provoked Israel, the West and Russia to impose severe funding restrictions in a bid to pressure the militants to recognize the Jewish state, disarm and accept past peace accords. Israel also has withheld hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes it collects for the Palestinians.

Palestinian lawmakers voted overwhelmingly on Saturday -- 83 to 3 -- to approve the government, then leapt to their feet in a standing ovation after the result was announced. Abbas swore in the new 25-member Cabinet shortly after the parliament session.
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