Israelis were divided yesterday over how to respond to Hamas's victory in the Palestinian elections.
While politicians with one eye on the Israeli general election in March rushed to be outraged and denounce the result as the first step towards the creation of a "terrorist state" next door, polls found the Israeli public in more sober mood.
Yuval Steinitz, the Israeli parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee chairman, said the government should have prevented Hamas from standing. He called the result a "tragic loss in our war against terror despite all our tactical successes", adding: "These elections contradict democracy."
The Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, whose father was labelled a terrorist by the British for his membership of the Jewish underground, said the elections "do not legitimise the terror organisations".
Ms Livni told journalists that Israel's withdrawal from Gaza last summer had opened a window of opportunity in peace efforts but, with the election of Hamas, "the Palestinians slammed it shut".
She said she had spoken to several foreign ministers and told them of the need to send "a very clear, unequivocal message . . . that elections are not a whitewash for terror".
The foreign minister's move followed a statement from the prime minister's office on Thursday night highlighting the obligation of the Palestinian Authority (PA) under the peace plan to dismantle all terrorist groups operating in its area.
"Approximately one year ago, the PA decided to hold elections for its legislative council and to enable the main terrorist organisation - Hamas - to take part," went the statement.
It added that the PA and its chairman made a commitment that a condition for Hamas's participation was that the PA would work to disarm Hamas and turn it from a terrorist organisation into a political organisation.
It continued: "Israel will not negotiate with a Palestinian administration if its members include an armed terrorist organisation that calls for the destruction of the state of Israel."
Although ordinary Israelis were generally stunned by the Hamas victory, many did not back their government's insistence it would not talk to the Islamists. A poll for Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper yesterday found almost half of Israelis favour negotiating with a Hamas-led government. Two-thirds said there should be talks with an administration that includes Hamas if the talks are not directly with Islamists.
Amnon Dankner, editor-in-chief of Maariv, Israel's largest newspaper, wrote: "Now we are faced with a Palestinian leadership which, unlike Arafat and his heirs, does not hide behind a mask. It does not pretend to be seeking law and order. It shows its true face, warts and all."
Israel's former defence minister, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, was more hopeful.
"We will be ready to talk with anyone who acknowledges our right to live in peace and safety," he said. "If it will be Hamas - so be it. If it acknowledges that, it will no longer be Hamas."
It has long been said of Israel that only an old general such as Ariel Sharon could carry through dramatic concessions, such as the removal of Gaza settlers. As Israelis take in the political earthquake of Hamas's victory, some are wondering if the same might be true of the Palestinians.
With Yasser Arafat dead, perhaps only Hamas has the credibility on the streets to do a deal with Israel that gives up on dreams such as bringing the refugees home.