Ben-Eliezer said that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert might consider talks with Hamas, which took control of the Gaza Strip in June, on a long-term ceasefire.
"If a serious, realistic proposal is put on the table and Hamas is willing to discuss a long-term cease-fire and is willing to stop the terror, to stop the smuggling and is willing to open talks on the release of Gilad Shalit, I would go to negotiations," Ben-Eliezer said in an interview on public radio.
Gilad Shalit is an Israeli soldier who was seized by Palestinian militants during a cross-border raid in June, 2006.
The Israeli military has intensified operations in the Gaza Strip recently, killing 20 Palestinian militants this week in retaliation for continuous rocket and shell attacks launched from the enclave.
At least six Palestinian militants were killed and five Israeli soldiers wounded during clashes in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, local officials said. One of the wounded Israelis soldiers was hit by a grenade and is in intensive care. At least 20 Palestinians were also wounded, five of them seriously, Palestinian health officials said.
At least three rockets were fired at south Israel by Palestinian militants on Thursday, and one of them hit near a local school. Media said several children were treated for shock.
