Hamas said today it would not join any Palestinian unity government that recognised Israel to rebuff President Mahmoud Abbas who told the United Nations any future coalition would do so and would renounce violence.
Ahmed Youssef, political adviser to prime minister Ismail Haniyeh
The blow to Mr Abbas came after US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, seeking to revive stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, said she planned to visit the Middle East soon.
Speaking at the 192-nation General Assembly in New York on Thursday, Mr Abbas said "any future Palestinian government" would honour all previous interim peace accords with Israel.
But Ahmed Youssef, political adviser to Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of the ruling Islamist militant movement,
said that an agreement between Hamas and Mr Abbas to form a unity coalition did not include recognition of Israel.
"I rule that out. The political thinking of Hamas prevents the idea that Hamas can be part of a government which puts the recognition of Israel on its political agenda," Mr Youssef said.
A deal on a unity government was reached on September 11th, and Palestinians hope it will lead to a lifting of Western sanctions imposed on Hamas when it took office in March.
Talks on the coalition's formation have faltered, and Mr Abbas, whose Fatah party was defeated by Hamas in January elections, has accused Hamas of reneging on the deal.
"Any future government will commit to imposing security and order, to ending the phenomena of multiple militias, indiscipline and chaos, and to the rule of law," Mr Abbas said.
Mr Youssef reiterated Hamas's position that a unity government would honour agreements made with Israel as long as they are in the "interests of the Palestinian people", a phrase that allows Hamas to pick and choose its obligations.
Those agreements include the 1993 Oslo peace accords.
A senior Abbas aide expressed surprise at Mr Youssef's comments, saying Hamas signed the deal on forming the unity government, knowing it meant honouring past peace deals.