Abbas: Talks will not resume until truce is reached

Ramallah: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not resume peace talks until Israel reaches a truce in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, he said on Wednesday.

This statement comes soon after US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged both sides to resume talks.

Israel has been waging and ongoing battle against Hamas militants in Gaza, leaving more thatn 120 Palestinians dead over the past week.

It is yet unknown whether Israel will agree to a formal truce with Hamas or not.

Peace talks between President Mahmoud Abbas and Israel were suspended earlier this week, following the bloody outcome of Israel's week long offensive.

In a statement, Abbas said: "The negotiations must be started, but after the truce. Once the truce is achieved the road will be open for negotiations."

He added Rice told him she would send an envoy to Egypt, which often mediates between Israel and Hamas. "There are real efforts being exerted by Egypt for the truce," Abbas said.

Abbas' aides have said that Hamas will undoubtedly be part of the deal, although Abbas did not mention Hamas by name.
Abbas has proposed a package in which Hamas halts its rocket barrages on southern Israel if Israel ends its attacks on Palestinian militants and Egypt reopens its border with Gaza, according to the aides.