Olmert rejects Hamas' offer of cease-fire

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Dec. 23 rejected Hamas' offer of a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, saying the government would not hold talks with the Islamic fundamentalist group until it recognizes Israel. "The State of Israel has no interest in negotiating with entities that do not recognize the Quartet demands," said Olmert during the weekly cabinet meeting. The Quartet of Middle East negotiators -- the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia -- have demanded that Hamas recognize Israel, renounce violence, and accept previously signed agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. "Whoever accepts the Quartet principles will, in principle, be a partner for negotiations," Olmert said. "Whoever isn't willing to do so, to our regret, cannot be a partner for dialogue with us. This policy will not change." "Our security forces have for months conducted numerous operations in the Gaza Strip, in order to reduce to a minimum the Qassam rocket fire, which has plagued the residents of the South, and in order to target those responsible for the Qassam fire," the prime minister added. "The operations against terrorist groups will continue as it has been for months," he continued. "There is no way to describe what is taking place there other than as a real war between the IDF and terrorist groups." On the same day, Hamas did not rule out a future cease-fire if Israel first stops "all forms of aggression" against the Gaza Strip. "If the occupation commits itself to stopping all forms of aggression against our people, only then the factions may discuss this issue," Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said. "But until then, there is no discussion among the factions over a calm."