Bush says U.S. will not deal with Hamas as long as it threatens Israel

Jolted by Hamas' stunning election victory, President George W. Bush said Thursday the United States will not deal with the militant Palestinian group as long as it seeks Israel's destruction.

"If your platform is the destruction of &to=http://english.pravda.ru/mailbox/22/101/399/16661_Israel.html' target=_blank>Israel it means you're not a partner in peace," the president said. "And we're interested in peace." He urged Hamas to reverse course.

&to=http://english.pravda.ru/world/2001/12/21/24185.html' target=_blank>Hamas has taken responsibility for dozens of suicide attacks on Israel over the past five years but has largely observed a cease-fire since the election of Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas as Palestinian president last year.