Jerusalem ? Israel’s defense minister warned Tuesday the incoming Hamas prime minister would be assassinated if the Islamic militant group resumes attacks, but the acting Israeli premier also pledged a drastic cut in spending on Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and others in his front-running Kadima Party delivered these messages just three weeks before the Israeli election. The centrist Kadima is trying to court both hard-line and dovish voters, and has been sliding in the polls.

Party officials have been more forthcoming recently about their post-election agenda, apparently in hopes of stemming the erosion in voter support. This week, Olmert’s key security adviser said Israel would dismantle more West Bank settlements and try to draw its final borders in the next four years.

Another key campaign issue is Israel’s position on Hamas, which won the Palestinian parliamentary elections in January and is poised to form a government. Hard-line candidates have accused Olmert of being too soft on Hamas, which is sworn to Israel’s destruction and refuses to renounce violence.

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz of Kadima told Army Radio on Tuesday that Israel would not hesitate to assassinate Hamas leaders if the group resumes attacks against Israel.

Asked specifically about Ismail Haniyeh, the designated Hamas prime minister, Mofaz said: “If Hamas … presents us with the challenge of having to confront a terror organization, then no one there will be immune. Not just Ismail Haniyeh. No one will be immune.”

Haniyeh brushed aside Mofaz’ warnings. “The continued escalation aims to shed more Palestinian blood, confuse the situation and hamper … the formation of the Palestinian government,” he told The Associated Press in Gaza City.

In the past five years, Israel has killed scores of suspected militants, along with Palestinian bystanders, in so-called targeted attacks, usually missile strikes from helicopters. Among those killed were Hamas founder Sheik Ahmed Yassin and his successor, Abdel Aziz Rantisi.

Hamas has observed a yearlong moratorium on suicide and shooting attacks, and Israeli security officials on Tuesday were quoted as saying the group has not fired homemade rockets at Israel from Gaza since the Jan. 25 election. Islamic Jihad has taken responsibility for the daily barrages.