Israel is not engaged in substantial peace talks with the Palestinians, although it will continue to discuss humanitarian and security issues, the government spokeswoman said on Monday.
"There are no real substantial discussions being done right now between the Palestinian president (Mahmud Abbas) and the Israeli prime minister (Ehud Olmert) or between officials," Miri Eisin told reporters. Her comments came two days after the swearing-in of a Palestinian unity government uniting president Mahmud Abbas's moderate Fatah party and radical Islamist movement Hamas. "If there is more stability and it is quieter, as it continues to be, we will be able to move forward," Eisin said.
But Israel made plain on Sunday that it would continue to have no dealings with the new government following a boycott of the Palestinian cabinet since Islamist group Hamas took power in March last year. Israel has nevertheless maintained contacts with Abbas, whom Olmert has met several times.
"Israel will continue to work with Mahmud Abbas in order to advance issues on security and issues pertaining to improving the quality of living of the Palestinian people," Olmert's cabinet said in a statement on Sunday.
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