News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Chairman Tzipi Livni of the Kadima party said Sunday that agreements with Hamas, other than one to release abducted soldier Gilad Shalit, hurt Israeli interests. Livni was speaking at a gathering in Tel Aviv, following a report in the Haaretz daily which said Israel was talking to Egypt about a new period of calm in Hamas-controlled Gaza.

The Opposition Leader said, "Just as the stopping of the negotiations with moderate members of the Palestinian Authority will hurt Israel's interests, the creation of agreements - direct or indirect - with Hamas, which will give the organization legitimacy in exchange for a few days of quiet, is a strategic mistake that will harm Israel." She added that it would hurt the interest of all moderate forces in the area.