JERUSALEM, Feb. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said on Sunday evening that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was "irrelevant" because of Hamas' victory in last month's Palestinian legislative elections and the militant group's subsequent takeover of the Palestinian parliament.

    Livni said that the Hamas-led Palestinian government must decide on Israel's demands for recognition and renunciation of violence, adding that Abbas "in this regard is not relevant.""Abu Mazen (Abbas) cannot serve as a fig leaf to a terrorist authority. He cannot be the pretty face of the ugly terror hiding behind him," Livni told the Israel Radio.

    Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz met with U.S.envoy David Welch on Sunday morning, discussing U.S. and Israeli policies toward Hamas.

    "Hamas is trying to mislead the international community, to sweet-talk it and to exhibit an appearance of responsibility," Mofaz was quoted by local newspaper Ha'aretz as saying to Welch Mofaz was referring to recent statements by Gaza-based senior Hamas leader Ismail Haneya, who has been formally tasked with the formation of the next Palestinian government.

    Haneya was quoted by The Washington Post on Saturday as saying that the Hamas-led government would establish a "gradual peace with Israel" if the latter withdrew to its 1967 borders.Israel snatched the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and the Arab East Jerusalem during the 1967 Mideast War.

    But Haneya has denied that Hamas would settle a peace agreement with Israel, saying his words were misunderstood. The Hamas premier-designate stressed that Hamas would consider a long-term political truce with Israel if the Jewish state withdrew to its 1967 borders, allowed Palestinian refugees to return and released Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

    Meanwhile, Mofaz also told Welch that Israel would not give tax revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinians to a Hamas-led government, but the Jewish state would not impede transfer of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.

    Mofaz also warned that Hamas was trying to obtain support and create an alliance with Iran. "These attempts will create an axis of evil from Iran to Syria through Hezbollah to Hamas", said Mofaz.

    Welch is to meet Israeli Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert later on Sunday to discuss U.S. and Israel stances regarding overtures and aid to the Hamas-led Palestinian government. The Army Radio reported that the two sides would agree on a "Hamas bypass route", which allows Washington to channel aid funds directly to humanitarian organizations in the Palestinian territories, or to Palestinian President Abbas, rather than to the Hamas-led government.

    Welch held talks with Abbas on Saturday, during which the U.S. envoy promised that the U.S. would not cut off humanitarian aid to the Palestinians even after a Hamas government took over.It was the first high-level meeting between the U.S. and the Palestinians since Hamas landslide election victory. Welch also assured Abbas that Washington supported him and his policies, praising his speech during the inauguration session of the Hamas-dominated Palestinian parliament earlier this month,according to Israel Radio.

    "The United States has long been a supporter of the Palestinian people, through a substantial contribution of our foreign assistance funds... we continue to be devoted to the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people and it shall remain so," Welch was quoted as saying.

    "It is our belief that it is important for the people in the Palestinian territories ... to have a good life in safety and security with economic well-being," Welch added.

    Hamas, or the Islamic Resistance Movement, garnered 76 seats in the 132-member Palestinian parliament, defeating Abbas long dominant Fatah movement.

    The group, sworn to Israel's destruction and labelled by Israel and Washington as a terrorist group, is expected to form a new government in the coming weeks.

    The U.S., together with the European Union, the United Nations and Russia, which form the Mideast peacemaking Quartet Committee, has threatened to cut off aid to the Palestinians if Hamas does not renounce violence, recognize Israel and accept previous Palestinian agreements with Israel.

    Palestinian President Abbas has also called upon Hamas to open talks with Israel and respect previous deals with Israel, but rejected by the group. Enditem