Mofaz: Israel to talk with Hamas if conditions met

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Reiterating previously known positions, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said on Wednesday that Israel would be willing to negotiate with Hamas if the radical group wins the upcoming Palestinian parliamentary elections and lays down its arms. According to Mofaz, who addressed high school students in Kfar Saba, Hamas would also have to immediately cease terror operations against Israel and remove the clause in its charter calling for the destruction of the State of Israel. Only then, he stressed, would Israel be willing to negotiate with the group, Army Radio reported. As long as the above conditions are not met, the defense minister emphasized, Israel would not deal with the group's elected representatives.