Benjamin Netanyahu decries creation of 'Hamastan'

Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the hawkish Likud Party, warned on Thursday that Hamas' dramatic victory in Palestinian elections would turn the Palestinian Authority into a radical, Islamic regime. "Today, Hamastan has been formed, a proxy of Iran in the image of the Taliban," Netanyahu said.

"It doesn't matter how much makeup they put on Hamas, it will remain the same Hamas," Netanyahu said after an emergency party meeting to discuss the election outcome. "We can't reach understandings with Hamas because their goal is to destroy Israel."

Israeli political commentators have said that Likud, which objects to territorial concessions to the Palestinians, is likely to benefit from Hamas' rise in Israel's March 28 parliamentary elections, reports the AP.

D.M.