Israel severs contact with hostile entity

NY Times:

Israel stepped up pressure on the Hamas-led Palestinian government on Sunday, severing all direct contacts with what it called a "hostile entity" and firing shells into Gaza to combat rocket attacks by militants.

"Israel will have no contact with the Palestinian Authority, which is a hostile entity, and will work toward preventing any entrenchment of the Hamas government's rule," said the Israeli statement, issued after a cabinet meeting.

The statement appeared to make formal the position that Israel had taken since the victory by Hamas in the Palestinian parliamentary elections in January. But it did not rule out "personal" contacts with the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah faction was crushed by Hamas in the elections.

The statement added, however, that Israel regarded the Palestinian Authority, which Mr. Abbas presides over, as a single entity, making it clear that opening a separate peacemaking channel with him, bypassing Hamas, was not an option.

The statement, from the office of the acting prime minister, Ehud Olmert, also said that Israel would shun foreign officials who met with Hamas members during visits to the region.

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