The ruling group Hamas said on Tuesday a planned Palestinian unity government would not recognise Israel or accept a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict as demanded by Israel and the United States.
The stance could undercut Palestinian efforts to ease a Western economic boycott by forming a unity cabinet more acceptable to the West. The United States and its partners in the Quartet of Middle East mediators imposed the boycott to pressure Hamas, which took office in March, to recognise Israel's right to exist, renounce violence and accept existing peace deals. A US-educated Pa the top candidate to replace Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas as part of the proposed unity government.
Yuval Diskin, head of Israel's Shin Bet security service, said Hamas would benefit under the arrangement because it would continue to exert control from behind the scenes while skirting responsibility for the outcome of the new government's policies.
"I am against a unity government on the Palestinian side. I do not view this as a good thing for Israel," Diskin told Israeli lawmakers according to a parliamentary source. "On the one hand Hamas would rule. On the other hand it will remove itself from all pressures and continue to solidify itself." Diskin said Israel should be prepared to widen its military operations in Gaza because of the growing strength of Hamas and other militant groups.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the programme of the proposed unity government between Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction "will not recognise Israel and will not include accepting the two-state solution." "We reject the two-state solution, which is the vision of US President George Bush, because it represents a clear recognition of Israel," Barhoum said. "Our position in this regard remains unchanged. We reject joining in any government that recognises Israel."
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