The former director of the Mossad spy agency said Israel shouldn’t rule out negotiations with Hamas. Efraim Halevy called the terrorist group that heads the Palestinian Authority a “deadly enemy,” but said that “in certain circumstances, and if they meet certain requirements,” relations could change. Addressing the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations on Thursday in New York City, Halevy said those preconditions would include a strong Hamas-led government that honors past agreements and does not allow terrorist attacks. He said Hamas should not be forced to recognize Israel ahead of negotiations. “We need to show them the carrot from time to time,” he said.
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