Acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said yesterday that he would work with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as long as he does not join forces with Hamas militants who are soon to take power.
Olmert also said Israel would continue transferring monthly tax payments to the Palestinian Authority (PA) as long as Hamas is not in control. Hamas recently won parliamentary elections but has not yet begun forming a government.
"I have no interest in harming Palestinian Authority chairman Abu Mazen as long as he doesn't cooperate with Hamas and as long as the Palestinian government isn't led by Hamas," Olmert told an economic conference, referring to Abbas by his widely known name.
Abbas, a moderate, was elected president a year ago, and will continue to hold that post, despite the change of government. Olmert did not say whether Israel would change its relationship with Abbas once Hamas takes power.
Israel collects the taxes and customs duties on behalf of the Palestinians under a longstanding economic accord, and has in the past withheld them from time to time for political reasons.
Israel delayed the transfer of last month's taxes last week, saying Hamas could use the money to pay for attacks. But in deciding on Sunday to release the money, Israel's Cabinet stated that payments might be frozen after Hamas forms the next Palestinian government.
Olmert said in his speech that further transfers would not be automatic, but open to review.
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