Former head of Mossad, Efraim Halevy, who headed the agency from 1998 to 2002, spoke this week to ABC Radio PM about the importance of engaging Hamas:
Well as you know I am on record for the last six years saying that Hamas should be part of the solution not part of the problem.
In the last two weeks two developments have taken place, a, the former minister of defence and chief of staff General Mofaz has come out openly and said that in certain circumstances people should talk to Hamas. And in a recent poll which was carried out last week, at the end of last week in Israel, a majority of Israelis believe that Israel should talk to Hamas.
So I am no longer a lone voice on this. The timing of such an event of course is contingent on when it would be of interest to both sides. I think that it will be in the end in the interest of both sides and I think in the end Mr Netanyahu will talk to Hamas in one form or another.