"Hamas acts as if it were a terrorist base rather than a government. In such circumstances, there is nothing to discuss. We hope Mahmoud Abbas will be able to get control, rein in Hamas, calm down the situation, and get back to negotiations," Anna Azari said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
While Israel favors a political resolution with the Palestinians, she said, "the Israeli government cannot, as any other government would not, show restraint in the face of such bombings and terrorist attacks."
[The southern Israeli town of] Sderot was bombed just as EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana met there Tuesday with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Azari said.
"Anyone can go there and see for himself what is going on in that troubled town," she said.
She called on the international community, including Russia, to rally around efforts to rein in Hamas.
"The international community can play a greater role by sending Hamas a strong message. Israel tried to refrain [from the use if force] as long as there were reports the Qassams were being launched by other groups. But part of this government says openly they are doing it. The international community should pressure Hamas, and we call upon Russia to do the same," the Israeli ambassador said.
Azari brushed off Russia's recent condemnation of "disproportionate" use of force by Israel in Gaza.
"I do not think there can be any discussion of what is proportionate and what is not if peaceful citizens are being killed. Israeli strikes are targeted at terrorist gangs and places where the Qassam rockets are produced. If their headquarters are located in densely populated areas, that is the terrorists' policy," she said.
At least seven Palestinians were wounded in the latest Israeli air strike in the north of Gaza earlier Tuesday, in which the Israelis, apparently targeting the Hamas infrastructure, mistakenly hit a reconnaissance base controlled by the Palestinian National Authority security services loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas.
The Israeli Defense Forces reportedly killed at least 40 Palestinians, most of them Hamas gunmen, since last Wednesday.
