Olmert: Israel won't negotiate with Hamas gov't

Any Palestinian Authority government that includes Hamas will not be a partner for Israel, Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert declared during a security cabinet meeting Thursday night following Hamas's victory in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections. Following the meeting, which lasted for some three hours, the Prime Minister's Office issued a statement that read: "Israel will not negotiate with a Palestinian government, even if only part of it is an armed terrorist organization calling for Israel's destruction, and in any case will continue to strenuously fight terrorism everywhere."