Israel Condemns Fatah-Hamas Pact

Reuters reports:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned a Palestinian unity pact on Wednesday as a "tremendous blow to peace."

Netanyahu spoke during a visit to London as a ceremony was held in Egypt ending a four-year rift between the Palestinians' Fatah movement, which backs negotiated peace with Israel, and Islamist Hamas, whose founding charter calls for the Jewish state's destruction.

"What happened today in Cairo is a tremendous blow to peace and a great victory for terrorism," Netanyahu told reporters.

Terrorism had been dealt a resounding defeat this week with the killing by U.S. forces of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, Netanyahu said.

But he said terrorism recovered on Wednesday because Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had embraced Hamas, which condemned the U.S. killing of bin Laden and praised bin Laden as a martyr.

Netanyahu had struck a deal with an organization that was committed to Israel's destruction and fired rockets at Israeli cities.

"What we hope will happen is that we find peace and the only way we can make peace is with our neighbors who want peace. Those who want to eliminate us, those who practice terror against us, are not partners for peace," said Netanyahu, due to hold talks shortly with British Prime Minister David Cameron.