Israel said Thursday it was halting peace talks with the Palestinians, following a unity deal struck between the Palestinian leadership and the Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip. "The cabinet has unanimously decided that the Israeli government will not negotiate with a Palestinian government backed by Hamas, a terror organisation that calls for the destruction of Israel," a statement from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu read. "In addition, Israel will take a number of measures in response to the PA’s (Palestinian Authority) unilateral moves."