![The 'Reconciliation agreement'](https://a7.org/files/pictures/781x439/796124.jpg)
Ministers in the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet met to discuss the Hamas-Fatah reconciliation agreement for the second time in 24 hours Tuesday.
"In accordance with previous decisions, the Israeli government will not conduct diplomatic negotiations with a Palestinian government that includes Hamas, a terrorist organization which calls for the destruction of Israel," the Cabinet said in a statement.
"As long as the following conditions are not met, [there will be negotiations]:
* Hamas will recognize Israel and desist from terrorism, as per the Quartet conditions;
* Hamas must be disarmed;
* IDF fallen and Israeli civilians held by Hamas must be returned;
* The Palestinian Authority (PA) must exercise full security control in Gaza, including at the crossings, and prevent smuggling;
* The PA will continue to act against Hamas terror infrastructures in Judea and Samaria;
* Hamas will sever its ties with Iran; and
* Funds and humanitarian equipment will continue to flow into Gaza only via the PA and the mechanisms that have been established for this purpose.
Education Minister Minister Naftali Bennett, who called for a cabinet meeting following the signing of the reconciliation agreement between the PA and Hamas last week, welcomed the cabinet's decision. "The security cabinet today made a strategic decision that defines the basic conditions for any negotiations: In the face of Abbas' association with a terrorist organization, the State of Israel will not begin political negotiations as long as Hamas does not completely disarm."
Bennett congratulated Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on the adoption of the resolution, which views the PA as a terrorist authority, "because any other decision would have legitimized the terrorist organization Hamas, which works to destroy Israel."
Bennett said that he is convinced that the IDF and the government could stand firm against any international and Arab pressure to recognize and negotiate with a government that includes Hamas. Now the Israeli effort should be focused on returning the civilians and the bodies of the soldiers, Hadar Goldin and Oron [Shaul], to Israel, while exacting a price from Hamas and the PA for holding them."
According to diplomatic sources, Prime Minister Netanyahu has stated that Israel will not cooperate with a joint Hamas-Fatah government, but it would not completely sever ties with the PA as Bennett demanded earlier this week.