Thursday, February 9 2006 16:27 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: As the recent electoral victory of Hamas radical outfit put a question mark on the future of West Asia peace process, Israel today(Feb 9,2006) said India can contribute' by talking to both Palestinians and Israel but asserted that it would not deal with the group till it shuns violence.

However, the issue has to be resolved bilaterally between Israel and Palestine, Israeli Ambassador to India David Danieli said in an interview to sources here.

"We are very much of the view that the issue should be resolved bilaterally between Israel and Palestinians. We wish it to be done directly across the negotiation table," he said amid apprehensions over the peace process after Hamas' victory.

On whether New Delhi can play a role in sustaining the peace process, the envoy said, "India certainly can contribute by having a dialogue with Palestinians and with Israel. India maintains equally good relations with both. So the ears of both sides are certainly open to hear Indian views and advise."

He emphasised that Israel would have nothing to do withHamas, despite its electoral victory, till it renounced violence and recognised Israel's right to exist.

"One cannot expect Israel to engage in a political process with a terrorist entity. Hamas has been responsible for the killing of over 500 Israelis in the last two years alone," he said.

"If the Hamas wishes to move forward for a dialogue with Israel, it has to change. It has to climb down from the high tree and satisfy the demands put in by the international community," the envoy underlined.

Danieli, a career diplomat who has been in India here for the last two-and-a-half years, spoke on a wide-range of issues like growing cooperation between India and Israel in various sectors, including defence, agriculture and science and technology.

Asked about indications of Israel and Pakistan forging links for the first time, he said "I assure Indian friends that none would come at the expense of wonderful bilateral relations between Israel and India."

On Iran's nuclear issue, the Israeli envoy said his country shared the concerns of the international community and hoped for an "appropriate solution that will alleviate our concerns as well as concerns of the international community in an adequate manner."

Noting that Iran had declared hostility towards Israel, Danieli said his country was "worried about the nature of Iran's nuclear programme".

He, however, said that Tel Aviv did not feel it was a bilateral matter. "This is a matter to be discussed, to be handled by the entire international community as a matter of priority," the Ambassador said, adding the proper organs are the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the UN Security Council.