Israel faces the danger of a "three-state solution" with Hamas in control of Gaza and the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority responsible for Judea and Samaria, Public Security Minister Avi Dichter (Kadima) warned Wednesday. He made the comments in a speech to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem.

"We have to be determined not to accept a situation where an enemy equipped with arms will be built in Gaza," according to the Public Security Minister. "This is the strategic goal of Israel. This will not be done in a month or a year, but we are a people of 3300 years, and 60 years in Israel. Even if it takes years, there is no way to accept a military entity between Israel and Egypt."

Dichter, who along with Shaul Mofaz is a leader in the hawkish wing of Kadima, also said that Iran is developing a new strategy in the Middle East by providing financial aid and military training to Hamas and Hizbullah.

"I do not think Israel should be the leading country to prepare the answer, as the question is not if Iran will have weapons, but when will they have them," he told the audience. "The Iranian threat therefore must be faced by superpowers such as United States and countries in the European Union."