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Israel, Palestinians prepare for PA elections

Acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with top military and political officials to discuss the growing likelihood that the Hamas terrorist group could dominate Wednesday`s Palestinian elections. The rise of Hamas has alarmed Israel and the United States. The group has killed hundreds of Israelis in suicide bombings and remains committed to Israel`s destruction.

Separately, an Israeli aircraft fired at three Palestinian gunmen trying to enter Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing one man and wounding two, according to the army and Palestinian officials. A suicide bombing last week in Tel Aviv killed only the terrorist, and security has been heightened in response after the first suicide attack of the year.

The United States has announced it will not deal with a Palestinian Authority with Hamas at its helm the way it has dealt with the PA under Mahmoud Abbas. In other PA-related news, the European Union announced it would be withholding millions of euros in funding due to the Palestinians` failure to implement financial responsibility agreements.