Lapid: If Hamas accepts Israel, our position would change

Zionist Regime’s Finance Minister Yair Lapid reacted to the implication that Hamas would recognize Israel as part of a Fatah-Hamas unity government in an interview with Army Radio Sunday morning.

"If Hamas accepts the terms of the international community, the situation will change from our point of view," he said.

In an additional interview with Israel Radio on Sunday morning, Lapid expanded on his terms for Hamas naming the three principles set up by the international community: Hamas must recognize Israel, renounce terrorism, and recognize past agreements between the PLO and Israel.

If Hamas accepts these terms, Lapid said, "the organization will no longer be Hamas, and we will have something to talk about, but at the moment we don't see that process happening."

On Army Radio, Lapid explained why he didn't quit the government following the suspension of peace negotiations.

"Hamas will not determine whether Yesh Atid remains in the coalition or not," he said.

In the interview, Lapid attacked the conduct of Bayit Yehudi over the last few months of peace talks, accusing party leader Naftali Bennett of sabotaging negotiations.

Bennett responded to the accusation on the air following Lapid's interview, saying, "For nine months we didn't open our mouths and we let Tzipi Livni and Saeb Erekat speak.