Israel will not try to negotiate a peace deal with Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, because he has lost authority since Hamas' rise to power, Prime Minister-designate Ehud Olmert said in an interview published Saturday.

It was the first time that Olmert said clearly he will not negotiate with Abbas unless the new Hamas government recognizes Israel, renounces violence and accepts existing peace accords.

"Abu Mazen (Abbas) has deprived himself of all the practical authorities of government," Olmert told the Washington Post.

He said that Israel will negotiate with those in government, on condition that they meet requirements of the roadmap peace plan and the quartet -- no violence, recognition of the state of Israel, acceptance of all the previous agreements signed by the PNA.

Olmert said that peace talks would have to be conducted with the PNA, now led by Hamas, and not with Abbas.

As to when he is going to launch his convergence plan, Olmert said, "If we reach the conclusion that the Palestinians are not prepared to meet the requirements that lead to negotiations, we will then move forward without a negotiating process. We are ready to change. We are not prepared to wait forever."

Hamas has said repeatedly that it would not recognize the existence of Israel. The group took power last week after winning the January parliamentary elections.

Abbas, who was elected separately last year, wields considerable power and he is in charge of negotiations with Israel.

Olmert went on to say that the convergence plan will move settlers from some West Bank enclaves to larger blocs.

"In Gaza, we pulled out of all the territories and dismantled all the settlements," he said. "Here, I'm talking about relocating many of the settlements into blocs that will be maintained by Israel.

"The rest of the territories will not have any Israeli presence and will allow territorial contiguity for a future Palestinian state," he said.

Olmert said that he would press ahead with his plan if the U.S. government agreed that the Palestinians and the new Hamas-led government were "not ready for genuine and meaningful negotiations. "

Meanwhile, Abbas said in an interview published on Saturday that Israel's unilateral plan to impose final borders in the West Bank will lead to another war in a decade.

Abbas told the Guardian that Olmert will jeopardize the prospect of a long-term peace if he refuses to negotiate an agreement Palestinians see as just.

"The Israelis say: 'OK, we'll impose a unilateral solution' -- which means that they will postpone, delay ... and they will not solve the problem," Abbas said.

"After 10 years our sons will feel it is unfair and they will return back to the struggle," he added.

Source: Xinhua