Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    JERUSALEM, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Vice Premier Haim Ramon said Monday that the Jewish state is holding talks directly with the Palestinian movement Hamas, despite a government decision forbidding such moves.

    This is the first time that Israel has officially admitted any direct contact with the militant group that the Jewish state regards as a terrorist organization, local daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported on its website.

    The talks "are in direct defiance of the government's resolution, according to which Israel would agree to talk to the group only after it accepts the conditions set by the Quartet," Ramon admitted at a meeting of lawmakers from the Kadima party.

    The Quartet of the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nation has demanded Hamas recognize Israel, renounce violence and ratify past agreements and the road map.

    Israel is negotiating a possible ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit with Hamas, apparently with Egypt being the middleman, in a manner, the report said not to breach the "political siege" Israel imposed on Hamas since its violent takeover of the coastal strip in June last year.

    Commenting on the stance of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and some other ministers that Shalit's release must be included in the truce deal, Ramon, however, said the two issues should not be linked together, as "a humanitarian one" has nothing to do with "the war on terror."

Hamas delegation arrives in Egypt for Israel's response to lull proposal

    CAIRO, May 19 (Xinhua) -- A delegation from the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Monday arrived in Egypt for talks with Egyptian officials to hear Israel's response to the ceasefire proposal, the Egyptian MENA news agency reported.

    The Hamas delegation is led by senior Hamas members, including former foreign minister Mahmoud Zahar, deputy political chief Moussa Abu-Marzouq and other Hamas officials.  Full story

Israeli FM says rigid time frame may undermine peace deal

    JERUSALEM, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Monday that a rigid timetable for Israel and the Palestinians to forge a peace agreement may lead to negative results.

    "The timeframe for reaching the agreements is important, but the content is even more so. Rigid timeframes may lead to unreal expectations, disappointments and violence," Livni told a U.S. congressional delegation led by House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.  Full story 

Israel to resume fuel supplies into Gaza

    GAZA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Israel pledged to resume reduced fuel shipments to the Gaza Strip on Monday, director of the Palestinian Petroleum Agency Mujahed Salama said.

    Gaza's reduced weekly portion of gasoline will be allowed into the coastal enclave on Monday after nearly two months of suspension, Salama said, adding that 75,000 liters of benzene are expected to be piped into Gaza via Nahal Oz crossing. Full story