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.