MIDDLE EAST: Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas will not form any new coalition government unless the Hamas- led cabinet clearly accepts a political programme that recognises Israel, a top aide said yesterday.
Mr Abbas and Hamas agreed last week to restart negotiations on a unity government in the hope of easing a Western aid embargo imposed to pressure Hamas militants to recognise Israel's right to exist and renounce violence.
Palestinians fear that if discussions fail between Hamas and Mr Abbas's Fatah movement, there is a danger of a return to a violent power struggle that followed Hamas's defeat of Fatah in January elections.
"President Abbas will not discuss the formation of a unity government before he reaches a political agreement with Hamas," Azzam al-Ahmad, head of Fatah's parliamentary bloc, said.
A Hamas official in Gaza said that was not on the agenda. "Fatah will never succeed in dragging us to recognise Israel," he said. "Let the economic siege remain . . . We want to pursue resistance - that's our only option."