GAZA, March 17, SPA -- Hamas said on Tuesday it hopedIsrael would resume talks on exchanging hundreds of Palestinianprisoners for a captured Israeli soldier after two days ofindirect negotiations in Egypt. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has made freedom forGilad Shalit a precondition for a wider truce with the GazaStrip's Hamas rulers and the opening of the enclave'sborders to crucial reconstruction aid after Israel's offensivein December and January. Olmert has been making a last-ditch push for Shalit'srelease before handing over to right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu,who is trying to form a government following Israel'sparliamentary election last month. "I hope that Olmert will listen to the voice of reason andcome back to pursue the talks to reach a deal by meeting (our)conditions," senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan told Reuters bytelephone from Lebanon. "But if the Israeli government sticks to its negativeposition, it will not be possible to clinch a deal, at least atthe present time," Hamdan said.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/645230