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Government of Palestine must recognize Israel: US

The US said on Monday that a future Palestinian unity government should comply with the demands of the diplomatic Quartet on the Middle East, which include recognition of Israel's right to exist.

"For our part, what we are looking for in any Palestinian government is that it complies and conforms with the terms and conditions laid out by the Quartet back in January," US State Department spokesman Tom Casey said.

"And obviously, we would judge any future government of the Palestinian Authority on the basis of those conditions," Casey said.

After Hamas won Palestinian elections in January, the Quartet -- the US, UN, EU and Russia -- urged the Islamic movement to abandon violence, recognize Israel and respect past agreements for the government to continue receiving financial aid.

After Hamas formed a government in late March, the EU and the US froze direct assistance to the aid-dependent Palestinian government.

On Monday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas agreed to form a unity government that could end months of international isolation and financial crisis.

The US considers Hamas a terrorist group.

"The US policy on Hamas has not changed and I do not think it is likely to, unless Hamas fundamentally alters its essence," Casey said.

Meanwhile, the EU gave a cautious welcome yesterday to the announcement by Palestinian leaders that the militant Hamas group would form a coalition government with the moderate Fatah party.

The Finnish government, which currently holds the EU presidency, said it saw the move "as a positive development and hopes that it will create the conditions for a return to the process of negotiation between the Israeli and Palestinian sides."

The Palestinian coalition plan announced on Monday falls short, however, of international demands that Hamas renounce violence, recognize the state of Israel and accept previous peace agreements.

The 25-nation EU, along with the US, Russia and the UN, has demanded Hamas drop its militant wing and accept working for a permanent peace plan with Israel.

The four have moved to cut off aid to the Hamas-led Palestinian government, which took power after elections in January, in an effort to force it to change its ways.

The EU statement reiterated that "only a negotiated two-state solution can bring lasting peace to the Middle East."

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana also welcomed the announcement, adding it "could have a very positive influence to re-energize the peace process."

The Hamas-led government on Monday said it would form a coalition with the more moderate Fatah.
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