WASHINGTON (AP) – Stunned by Hamas’ decisive election victory, President 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 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.

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.

Bush left open the possibility of cutting off U.S. aid to the Palestinians. That was echoed by a nonbinding Senate resolution condemning Hamas and expressing support for halting assistance to the Palestinian government, of which the U.S. is providing $150 million for development this year.

The symbolic resolution, crafted by Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., says aid should be ended if the party controlling the Palestinian parliament advocates the destruction of Israel, as Hamas does. It was unclear when the Senate would vote on the proposal.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., issued a similar hint, saying, “Hamas has shown that it prefers terrorism against innocent civilians to pursue its political aims, and the United States should play no role in assisting a majority terrorist parliament.”

Bush also called on Abbas, a U.S. ally, to remain in office despite Fatah’s defeat by Hamas in parliamentary elections. Abbas, elected separately a year ago, said he was committed to negotiations with Israel and suggested talks would be conducted through the Palestine Liberation Organization, a possible way around a Hamas-led government.

“A political party that articulates the destruction of Israel as part of its platform is a party with which we will not deal,” he said at a White House news conference. But he also said, “Peace is never dead because people want peace.”

Washington was shocked by Hamas’ landslide victory. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., called it “a de-facto declaration of war by the Palestinian people against the state of Israel.” Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., said the outcome was “very disturbing” and Hamas needed to disarm, denounce violence and recognize Israel’s right to exist.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said the election “casts a serious shadow over the prospects for peace.”

The administration scrambled for a diplomatic response to Hamas’ victory. The White House found it difficult to criticize the results – as distasteful as they were for the United States – since Bush himself has led the charge for spreading democracy and freedom across the Middle East.

“When you give people the vote, you give people a chance to express themselves at the polls,” Bush said. “And if they’re unhappy with the status quo, they’ll let you know. That’s the great thing about democracy.”

It’s not the first time Bush has faced obstacles in dealing with Palestinians. He refused to meet or talk with the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat but dealt with Abbas and others, instead.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held a conference call Thursday with other international sponsors of a plan to draw Israelis and Palestinians back to the peace table.

Members of the so-called Quartet – the U.S., the European Union, the United Nations and Russia – issued a statement saying: “The Quartet reiterates its view that there is a fundamental contradiction between armed group and militia activities and the building of a democratic state. A two-state solution to the conflict requires all participants in the democratic process to renounce violence and terror, accept Israel’s right to exist, and disarm.”

Rice also talked with Abbas and the Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni. She will travel to Europe for further consultations Monday.

“You cannot have one foot in politics and another in terror,” Rice told the World Economic Conference in Davos, Switzerland, via a telephone hookup from the State Department. “Our position on Hamas has therefore not changed.”

“Palestinian people have apparently voted for change, but we believe their aspirations for peace and a peaceful life remain unchanged,” she said. Rice said those goals will require renunciation of violence and terrorism and acceptance of Israel’s right to exist side-by-side with a Palestinian state.

Bush said the elections were a wake-up call for the Palestinians’ corruption-ridden Fatah Party. “The people are demanding honest government. The people want services,” he said.

AP-ES-01-26-06 1946EST

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