Jerusalem – Israel’s acting prime minister, Ehud Olmert, said Tuesday that he would be willing to restart peace talks with the Palestinians if they met the long-standing Israeli demand to break up armed factions.
But Palestinian elections Jan. 25 could further complicate peace efforts because the Islamic faction Hamas is expected to do well and might become part of the Palestinian government.
Hamas, which has carried out many bombings and other attacks against Israel, says it will not lay down its weapons after the election, and Israel insists it will not deal with Hamas, which Israel labels terrorist.
Still, Olmert said he hoped the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, would disarm the factions, which could lead to renewed peace talks after the Palestinian balloting this month and Israeli elections in March.
“I hope that based on the results of their elections, and after that the results of our elections, I will be able to enter negotiations,” Olmert said.
Earlier this week, Abbas said he was prepared to deal with Olmert “without any preconditions.”
Israeli and Palestinian officials hold periodic contacts, but negotiations broke down shortly after the Palestinian uprising began in September 2000.