Israel, US View Palestinian Unity Government With Suspicion
Ryan R. Jones - All Headline News Middle East Correspondent Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) - Both Israel and the US Monday expressed skepticism that an announced Palestinian unity government would mean a renewed peace process, noting that under the purported deal Hamas was still evading explicit recognition of the Jewish state and abandonment of terrorism. Following a meeting with her visiting Spanish counterpart, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni told reporters that Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas "can establish a government in any manner he pleases, but Hamas is a terror organization, and in order for it to become legitimate, it must accept the conditions of the [international community], including recognizing Israel." Under the current circumstances, if Abbas "joins the terror government headed by Hamas, we will have a problem," warned Livni. US State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos concurred in remarks carried by the AP, insisting that any Palestinian government must disavow terrorism, explicitly recognize Israel and abide by past agreements if wants to regain the international community's trust be viewed as part of the solution to the Middle East conflict. Earlier in the day, officials from both Hamas and Abbas's Fatah faction said they had reached a breakthrough in negotiations over a unity government, and that a new ruling coalition would likely be presented within days. But senior Hamas off |
