Israeli Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reiterated on Tuesday that Hamas must be disarmed, urging Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to deal with the issue immediately after the parliamentary elections.

"Hamas is a terrorist organization...it must be disarmed. On this issue there can be no compromise," Olmert told visiting Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos, who is here to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Spain.

"It is important for Abu Mazen (Abbas) to deal with this immediately after the elections, according to a clear timetable," he stressed, adding that it was forbidden to differentiate between Hamas' political and military arms.

Israel has allowed Palestinians in East Jerusalem to participate in the Jan. 25 parliamentary elections, but bars Hamas, a radical militant group sworn to Israel's destruction, from the elections.

Israel demands Hamas be disarmed first.

Olmert said Israel approved elections to be held in East Jerusalem because by doing this, the Palestinians will have no excuse to elude their obligations afterwards.

Earlier this morning, Olmert also met with EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero- Waldner and emphasized that for Israel it made no difference whether Hamas was in parliament or not. It had to be disarmed in any case, he said.

He also noted that Europe could play an important role in pressing the Palestinians to disband terrorist organizations, adding that "Israel will not compromise with terrorism and intends to wage a harsh struggle against it."

Hamas, a major driving force behind more than five years of Palestinian uprising against Israel, put up a strong showing in the latest Palestinian local elections.

With a surging street popularity, it is also poised to present a tough challenge to the ruling Fatah movement led by Abbas in the parliamentary elections on Jan. 25.

Hamas' participation in the upcoming elections as well as its possible victory has raised concerns in Israel, which together with the European Union lists Hamas as a terrorist organization.

Source: Xinhua