Jerusalem ? Israel’s prime minister spelled out a tough line Wednesday against Iran, Syria and an emerging Palestinian government, urging the international community to take a firmer stance against Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and saying the Jewish state has no interest in talking to those who support violence.

Ehud Olmert also defended his much-criticized war in Lebanon and called Muslim complaints against Israeli construction near a Jerusalem holy site an attempt to stir up hatred.

Speaking at an annual news conference with foreign journalists, Olmert said his government would not do business with a Palestinian unity government that refuses to accept the conditions of the so-called Quartet of Mideast peace brokers: recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept past peace deals.

“Israel will not be able to maintain any kind of formal or practical contact with a government that will not accept explicitly the principles of the Quartet,” he said.

Attempting to quell months of internal fighting, Hamas militants and the moderate Fatah Party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas recently reached a unity deal in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, that includes a vague reference to “respecting” past peace accords, but falls short of meeting the other two international demands.

Abbas, Olmert and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held a rare three-way summit in Jerusalem on Monday, but the talks achieved little after both Israel and the U.S. made it clear there will be no future dealings with an unrepentant Hamas, which both nations deem to be a terrorist organization.

Olmert, however, said he will continue to hold talks with Abbas and work to improve the lives of Palestinians.

“We believe that however mistaken their leadership can sometimes be, people don’t have to suffer for the mistakes of the leaders,” Olmert said.

The prime minister expressed support for a Palestinian state alongside Israel, but said that will be hard to achieve in light of last year’s victory by Hamas in parliamentary elections.

Asked if Israel might react positively to signals from Syria that it’s ready to enter peace negotiations, Olmert said that country’s support for militants precludes such talks.

Olmert criticized Syria for supporting Hezbollah in Lebanon, and defended Israel’s performance in last summer’s 34-day war against the guerrillas, saying Hezbollah “is weaker, much weaker than they were.”