JERUSALEM, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- In a rare interview published Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told a Palestinian newspaper that Israel will negotiate with a Palestinian unity government if the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) accepts the conditions of the Middle East Quartet.

    Israel will have contacts with the Fatah-Hamas unity government if it adopts the international community's three principles, recognizing Israel, renouncing violence and accepting existing peace deals, the Jerusalem-based Arabic-language newspaper, the al-Quds, quoted Olmert as saying.

    "I don't think it is necessary to investigate the records of the (Hamas) ministers," Olmert said, pointing out that Israel negotiated with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) even though it was long considered a terrorist group.

    In the interview, Olmert extended a hand to moderate Palestinian National Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, saying he would be willing to release "a large number" of Palestinian prisoners.

    But he added that the Palestinians would not be free before the releasing of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who was captured in across-border raid by Palestinian militants in June.

    Hamas has so far rejected the international conditions and has been suffering from political and financial blockade imposed by Western powers.

    "I give Palestinians my word of honor," Olmert said. "You will see how far I will go to allow your sons to return to their houses."

    Olmert, meanwhile, apologized for Israel's killing of 19 Palestinian civilians last week in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun and called the incident a "tragedy". He said it was caused by a technical problem in the artillery that fired the errant shells.

    Olmert's remarks came after a new Palestinian national unity government was reported to be formed by early December to replace the current Hamas-led one.

    A Hamas official based in Damascus said Monday that Hamas and Fatah had agreed on former Islamic University president Mohammed Shabir as the next prime minister.