The Hague  - Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen told parliament Thursday he would not talk to the Palestinian movement Hamas after talks with his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman.

Informing lawmakers about his talks with Lieberman, who visited the Netherlands on Wednesday, Verhagen said Lieberman was a member of government of a democratic country and ally.

Therefore, Verhagen said, talking to Lieberman is something "entirely different than engaging in talks with a terrorist organization."

He emphasized the Netherlands would only engage in talks with Hamas, which effectively rules the Gaza strip, if the movement were to renounce violence, recognize Israel and observe all previously signed peace agreements.

A majority of the 150 lawmakers in the lower house of the Dutch parliament support Verhagen. However, the second largest coalition party, Labour, and the Socialist and Green opposition parties, want the government to talk to Hamas.

Verhagen also said he was pessimistic about the peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians and said he had expressed his "grave concern" about it to Lieberman.

The Netherlands want Israel to stop all building activity in Palestinian areas and also open the border with the Gaza Strip.(dpa)