Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Wednesday that he would meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas if he combats terrorism.

Olmert made the remark during talks with visiting French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, the Jerusalem Post reported on its website.

Olmert, who considered Abbas as a partner but not an independent leader, said that as long as the Palestinian National Authority was controlled by Hamas, there would be no political negotiations.

Concerning the current financial crisis in the Palestinian territories, Olmert told Douste-Blazy that Israel was going to transfer food and medicines to the Palestinian side but not money and wages, according to the report.

Since Hamas took office in March, major western donors have suspended financial aid to the Palestinians duo to Hamas' refusal to renounce violence and recognize Israel.

Israel also stopped transferring a monthly tax payment of about 50 million U.S. dollars it collects on behalf of the Palestinians.

Israel considers Hamas as a terrorist group committed to Israel 's destruction.

Olmert has repeatedly voiced that Israel would not deal with a Hamas-led Palestinian government unless it changes its violent political approach.

Olmert, who was sworn in as the new Israeli prime minister on May 4, has vowed to demarcate Israeli final borders by 2010 by evacuating isolated settlements in the West Bank while keeping the major ones with or without peace talks with the Palestinian side.

Douste-Blazy arrived in Israel on Tuesday on a two-day visit to the country where he attended the launch of a season of French cultural events in Tel Aviv.

Source: Xinhua