"The Americans are worried that Hamas will not succeed in this test," he said.
Ahmed Youssef, a top aide to Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, was noncommittal when asked whether the group would recognize Israel.
Israel planned to give an official response to the Palestinian program at its weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday.
Isreali Vice Premier Shimon Peres said in an interview with the German weekly Focus that "we will study the agreement and then judge it."
But in the comments published on Saturday, he said that Hamas must recognize Israel if it wants negotiations.
Hamas, listed as a terror group by Israel, the US and the EU, is responsible for scores of deadly suicide bombings in Israel.
Previous efforts to form a unity government have foundered and none have come this far.
Still, there were fears that the new deal could unravel in coming weeks as the two sides choose ministers.
RSS