Following are Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's remarks today, at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting:

"The heads of the security establishment will brief us today in the wake of the Palestinian Authority (PA) elections; we will then hold a discussion.

Over the weekend, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and I spoke with various world leaders.  Israel ascribes great importance to the formation of a united international position that will make it clear to the Palestinians that under no circumstances can we either accept nor countenance a PA, part or all of which is composed of an armed organization that calls for the destruction of the State of Israel.

Over the weekend, I spoke with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Jordanian King Abdallah II, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, French President Jacques Chirac and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and with all of them I found full support for our position and the principles that we have defined and which form the position of the Israeli government.

We made it clear that without an explicit renunciation of terrorism; recognition of the State of Israel's right to exist in quiet, security and peace; recognition of all of the agreements and the commitments which the PA has taken upon itself; and the cancellation of the Hamas Covenant, which calls for the destruction of the State of Israel – Israel will be unable to have any contacts with the Palestinians.  These principles are accepted by most of the international community and on this matter I do not intend to make any compromises.

On another issue, last night leading kabbalist Rabbi Yitzhak Kedourie passed away.  His funeral will be held shortly in Jerusalem.  Many Israelis – from right and left, religious and secular – will accompany Rabbi Kedourie – who, for so many years, taught the hidden Torah and kabbalistic wisdom – on his final journey.  The Government expresses its sorrow over his passing and sends its condolences to his many students, admirers and family members."