Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz urged the European Union (EU) on Friday to pressure the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which is expected to form a

new Palestinian government, to renounce violence and recognize Israel.

Mofaz made the call during a meeting with visiting EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana in Jerusalem earlier on Friday.

The minister called upon the EU to persuade Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to pressure Hamas to give up violence and recognize Israel.

Mofaz also stressed to Solana Israel's position on Hamas, a group which calls for Israel's destruction, reiterating that the Jewish state would continue refusing to deal with a Hamas-run Palestinian government unless the group disarmed, recognized Israel's right to exist and committed itself to the internationally-backed road map peace plan.

"We cannot talk with a terror group that has the blood of Israeli people on its hands," Mofaz told Solana.

He also stressed that Israel did not plan to prevent transfer of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people, but urged Solana to instruct international organizations to transfer the assistance directly to the people while bypassing the Hamas-led Palestinian government.

"Israel will not take steps against the Palestinian people," Mofaz said. "We will not prevent humanitarian assistance and on the contrary, we believe that international support needs to continue."

In response to Hamas landslide election victory, Mofaz on Thursday proposed a long list of tough measures including barring the Palestinians from traveling between the West Bank and Gaza and a ban on Palestinian workers from entering Israel.

The defense minister also recommended an immediate halt of the monthly transfer of tax revenues Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinians to the Palestinian National Authority.

But Mofaz also stressed that restrictions would not be imposed on transfer of international humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.

The proposals will be sent to Israeli Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for approval in the coming days.

Source: Xinhua