Prime Minister Netanayhu at his government's weekly cabinet meeting. Photo: Screenshot.

The Israeli government said on Thursday that it will “not negotiate with a Palestinian government backed by Hamas, a terrorist organization that calls for Israel’s destruction.”

After a unanimous Cabinet vote on Thursday, the government said in a statement: “In addition, Israel will respond to unilateral Palestinian action with a series of measures.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Instead of choosing peace, Abu Mazen [Mahmoud Abbas] formed an alliance with a murderous terrorist organization that calls for the destruction of Israel.”

“Abu Mazen has formed an alliance with an organization whose covenant calls for Muslims to fight and kill Jews,” Netanyahu said. “Hamas has fired more than 10,000 missiles and rockets at Israeli territory and has not halted terrorist actions against Israel even for a minute.”

“The agreement between Abu Mazen and Hamas was signed even as Israel is making efforts to advance the negotiations with the Palestinians,” he said.

“It is the direct continuation of the Palestinians’ refusal to advance the negotiations. Only last month Abu Mazen rejected the framework principles proposed by the United States. Abu Mazen has refused to even discuss recognizing Israel as the national state of the Jewish People. He violated existing agreements by unilaterally applying to accede to international treaties and then formed an alliance with Hamas.”

Netanyahu concluded: “Whoever chooses the terrorism of Hamas does not want peace.”