Leaders of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) have met with Israeli police officers in East Jerusalem, Israeli channel II TV reported on Tuesday.

Senior Hamas leader Mohammed Abu Tir and several Hamas members who were newly elected legislators in last week's Palestinian parliamentary ballot held talks with Israeli police officers in the Israeli police headquarters in East Jerusalem on Monday over security issues, according to the report.

The TV quoted an Israeli spokesman as saying that Monday's talks focused on security and that the Israeli side informed Hamas leaders that the Israeli police expected Hamas "not to carry out any illegal practices in Jerusalem."

Abu Tir said that he and other Hamas members were invited by the Israeli police via phone to attend the meeting, refusing to give more details.

Meanwhile, well-informed Israeli police sources said that Monday's meeting lasted for two hours and that several more such meetings will be held in the coming days between Hamas and Israeli officers.

Defeating the long dominant Fatah movement, Hamas has garnered 74 seats in the 132-member new parliament and is expected to form the next government.

Israel has called upon Hamas to renounce violence, recognize the Jewish state and abide by agreements reached between the Palestinian National Authority and Israel in the past, including the roadside peace plan which sees a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Source: Xinhua