Olmert: Germany agrees not to deal with Hamas

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday called the Hamas victory in last week's Palestinian parliamentary election an "unfortunate event," and said Israel and Germany agree not to deal with a Hamas regime. Olmert was speaking after meeting visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He thanked Germany for its "efforts to prevent terror groups from receiving funding from European charities." It was Olmert's first statement in public since the Hamas victory, though he told his Cabinet earlier Sunday that Israel would have no contact with a Hamas government.