Netanyahu speech reflects 'racism', says Hamas

The Islamic Hamas movement has criticized hawkish Israeli prime minister's policy address, saying it reflects a 'racist and extremist ideology'.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum described Benjamin Netanyahu's Sunday night speech as a "slap in the face" of all moderate supporters of negotiations with Israel.

The speech is a repeat of the policy of the Israeli government, "which aims at transforming the Palestinian people into a tool to protect the occupation," he said.

Barhum added that Netanyahu's stance on the Middle East conflict displays that Israel rejects the rudimentary rights of the Palestinian people.

Meanwhile, Ismail Radwan, a senior Hamas leader in Gaza, highlighted that Netanyahu, in his speech, erased the Palestinian refugees' right to return to their homeland, adding that he also failed to "recognize al-Quds (Jerusalem) as the capital of the independent Palestinian state."

Radwan also rejected Netanyahu's demand that the Palestinians recognize Israel.

"What is needed to be done now, is to stop immediately all ties with Israel," said the Hamas leader.

Netanyahu, in his keynote address said that he would accept a Palestinian state under certain conditions. The hawkish premier denied any future Palestinian state the right to retain a military force and said that the leadership of the Palestinian Authority 'must' defeat Hamas -- which is opposed to the recognition of Israel.

"They must decide between the way of peace and the way of Hamas", Netanyahu said. "Palestinian Authority must impose law and order ... and overcome Hamas. Israel will not negotiate with terrorists trying to destroy it", he said.