UN:The United Nations, the European Union and Russia have backed a United States effort to restart talks between Israelis and Palestinians, but the four powers expressed concern about violence among Palestinians.
Speaking after a meeting of the four powers, known as the Quartet, in Washington yesterday, US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice said the violence between Hamas and Fatah should not be allowed to halt the search for an agreement in the Middle East.
"Despite that violence, there's simply no reason to avoid the subject of how we get to a Palestinian state . . . The Palestinian people have waited a long time for a state and the Israeli people have waited a long time for the peace and security that would come from having a democratic neighbour," she said.
Russia disagreed with the US and the EU on how to deal with Hamas, with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov arguing that the policy of isolating Hamas was counter-productive.
The EU and the US insist that Hamas must commit itself to the principles of non-violence, recognition of Israel and the acceptance of previous agreements.
"We are convinced that it is necessary to work with Hamas to try to influence their position so that Hamas would accept those principles that were formulated by the Quartet.
"If those principles remain on paper and we just hope that they would magically be implemented and will become part of Hamas' position, this is hardly realistic," Mr Lavrov said.
In a joint statement, the Quartet welcomed a meeting later this month between Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, Mr Abbas and Dr Rice aimed at restarting peace talks.
The US wants to revive peace efforts partly as a way to reassure Arab allies that Washington is committed to improving the Palestinians' plight and to solidify allies such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt against Iran.
Dr Rice rejected a Russian call for Syria to be included in the Middle East peace talks, dismissing the suggestion that Damascus could play a constructive role.
"I think Syria knows what it needs to do to be a stabilising force . . . I hope that it will in fact try and play a positive role rather than a negative one," she said.