U.S. President George W. Bush said on Thursday that Hamas can not be a peace partner if it does not renounce violence and continue to advocate the destruction of Israel.

"I don't see how you can be a partner in peace if you advocate destruction of a country," Bush said at a press conference, referring to Hamas' advocacy of destroying Israel.

The United States will not deal with any Palestinian political party that articulates the destruction of Israel, Bush said.

Moreover, Bush said that the results of the Palestinian parliamentary elections show people are not happy with the status quo.

To the dismay of the United States, a Hamas spokesman announced earlier Thursday that the group had won 77 seats in the 132-member parliament, defeating the long dominant Fatah. If confirmed winner, Hamas, sworn to Israel's destruction, will be asked to form a new cabinet, according to the Palestinian law.

The United States has long called for disarming and dismantling Hamas.

Source: Xinhua