Israeli Pm: Cease-Fire With Hamas Not On Israel's Agenda

JERUSALEM, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israeli lawmakers on Thursday that a cease-fire agreement with Hamas isn't on the agenda at the moment, the Ha' aretz daily reported.

The prime minister made the remarks as he briefed ministers during a meeting in the Knesset (Israel's parliament) concerning Israel's latest offensive in the Gaza Strip dubbed "Operation Protective Edge," as it entered its third day.

The lawmakers asked Netanyahu whether the operation had specific political goals and whether he was in contact with Egypt or other countries on brokering a cease fire agreement.

"I am not talking to anybody about a cease-fire right now," Netanyahu told the members of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. "It's not even on the agenda," the prime minister said.

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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-07/10/c_133475324.htm