Israel Rejects Talks With Hamas

Raanan Gissin, senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, said Israel will not negotiate with any recognized terrorist organizations.

"Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization by all the countries of the world," Gissin said, adding that "it's against the Oslo agreement and against the road map to peace, [to] which the Palestinian authority has committed itself."

Meanwhile, Israeli officials continued to press the Palestinian Authority to act on its pre-election promise to disarm militant groups.

Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas and Hamas officials are to meet in the coming days to discuss the formation of a new Palestinian government.

(compiled from agency reports)