Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert has vowed that the regime's military forces would hit anyone who attacks Israel, especially Hamas.

Speaking at the Conference of the Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations in al-Quds on Sunday, Olmert said that the Israeli military has a free hand to hit Palestinian activists in Gaza.

"We will not hesitate to attack them in order to stop them. That applies to everyone, first and foremost Hamas,” Olmert said.

The premier also claimed that he would make every effort to reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians this year and that the issue of al-Quds would be the last item on the agenda.

Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas is to meet Olmert on Tuesday.

SB/RE