Israel Security Cabinet: Cut Ties With Abbas, Declare Palestinian Authority 'Hostile'

JERUSALEM – Israel's security Cabinet recommended Sunday that the government cut all ties with the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and declare it a "hostile entity," a government spokesman said.

The recommendations by the security Cabinet, a small group of top officials, would rule out the possibility that Israel would negotiate with the moderate Palestinian president in an effort to bypass the Islamic militant group, spokesman Asaf Shariv said.

The full Cabinet will approve the recommendations at its weekly meeting next Sunday, making the measures official Israeli policy, Shariv said.