Prime Minister Netanyahu. Photo: Screenshot.

Israel must not rush into a peace agreement with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, because Hamas may try to usurp his government, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday.

Speaking at his weekly Bible-study session, Netanyahu compared political events in the region to those of the weekly bible portion.

“In this week’s Torah portion it says ‘Now there arose a new king over Egypt…’; like then, like today,” Netanyahu began, referring to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, who was elected president of Egypt last year following the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak.

“In Egypt, the regime has been replaced, in Syria the regime is being shaken and this could also happen in the Palestinian Authority areas in Judea and Samaria. Everyone knows that Hamas could take over the Palestinian Authority. It could happen after an agreement, it could happen before an agreement, like it happened in Gaza,” He continued, referring to a 2007 coup that saw Hamas replace the PA in the Gaza Strip.

Responding to recent positive overtures from President Shimon Peres towards PA Chairman Abbas, Netanyahu said that security needs most trump any other considerations.

“Therefore, as opposed to the voices that I have heard recently urging me to run forward, make concessions, [and] withdraw, I think that the diplomatic process must be managed responsibly and sagaciously and not in undue haste. Otherwise a third base for Iranian terrorism will arise here, in the heart of the country. Peace can be achieved only when security is assured.”

On Monday, Netanyahu reportedly reaffirmed his commitment to a two-state solution following reports that Likud MK Tzipi Hotovely said that Netanyahu does not support a two-state solution.