Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon discussed the situation in Gaza on Sunday night in a meeting in New York. Olmert warned Ki-Moon not to attempt to mediate between rival terrorist groups Hamas and Fatah, saying that an agreement would only strengthen Hamas.

Olmert told Ki-Moon that Israel is ready to give “backup and a great deal of assistance” to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas “and other moderates.” Israel will not interfere in Gaza, Olmert said, but “will not stand by if there will be executions of innocent people.”