Israeli officials have reached out to the Hamas terrorist organization with a proposal to conduct direct talks, according to an unconfirmed report Friday by the London-based Arabic language a-Sharq il-Awsat newspaper.
Norwegian officials would act as mediators at the talks aimed at reaching a truce between the two parties. Freedom for kidnapped IDF Corporal Gilad Shalit, who was snatched by members of the terrorist group in June 2006, may also be on the agenda.