New Delhi : As the recent electoral victory of Hamas radical outfit puts a question mark on the future of the West Asia peace process, Israel on Thursday said India could "contribute" by talking to both Palestinian and Israel but asserted that it would not deal with the group till it shunned violence.

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

"We are very much of the view that the issue should be resolved bilaterally. 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 advice."

He emphasised that Israel would have nothing to do with Hamas, 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.

Mr. Danieli, a career diplomat who has been in India for the last two-and-a-half years, spoke on a wide range of issues such as 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, he said Israel 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."

On India-Israel defence cooperation, Mr. Danieli said it had gone beyond the buyer-seller relationship to developing technology and equipment jointly. Pointing out that the defence ties were "growing steadily", the envoy said Tel Aviv was having joint cooperation with New Delhi "practically in every aspect of the sector."

Asked about the prospects of a civilian nuclear deal between India and Israel, he ruled out scope for any such development. "Israel has no nuclear deals with any other country. So I don't see the scope for such a deal," he explained.

He described as significant the visits of Ministers Kamal Nath, Sharad Pawar and Kapil Sibal to Israel recently, saying it had helped further consolidate the "robust" ties between the two countries.

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