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US and Israel agree boycott plan US and Israel agree boycott plan
(about 4 hours later)
The US and Israel will not work with a new Palestinian unity government unless it recognises Israel, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said.The US and Israel will not work with a new Palestinian unity government unless it recognises Israel, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said.
He was speaking as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice prepared for talks with Mr Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. He spoke as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice prepared for three-way talks with Mr Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Mr Olmert said he and US President Bush agreed on their position on Friday. Mr Olmert said he and US President Bush had agreed on their position on Friday.
Hamas, the largest group in the proposed Palestinian unity government, refuses to recognise Israel.Hamas, the largest group in the proposed Palestinian unity government, refuses to recognise Israel.
Mr Olmert said a Palestinian government that failed to accept conditions laid down by the quartet of the US, EU, Russia and UN "cannot receive recognition and there will not be co-operation with it," Reuters news agency reports. Mr Olmert said a Palestinian government that failed to accept conditions laid down by the quartet of the US, EU, Russia and UN "cannot receive recognition and there will not be co-operation with it".
The quartet has called on the Palestinians to recognise the state of Israel and give up violence against it. "I spoke about this on Friday with the president of the United States, and I can tell you the Israeli and US positions are completely identical," Mr Olmert said in televised comments.
"I spoke about this on Friday with the president of the United States, and I can tell you the Israeli and US positions are completely identical," Mr Olmert said in televised comments, Reuters says. Power-sharing deal
The EU, US and Russia have maintained an economic boycott of the Palestinian government since Hamas won legislative elections last year. The EU, US and Russia have maintained an economic boycott of the Palestinian government since Hamas won legislative elections in January last year.
If one waited for the perfect time to come to the Middle East then one would never get on the airplane Condoleezza RiceUS secretary of stateIf one waited for the perfect time to come to the Middle East then one would never get on the airplane Condoleezza RiceUS secretary of state
Ms Rice is holding separate meetings on Sunday with Mr Olmert and Mr Abbas before the three are due to get together on Monday. After weeks of internal fighting, Hamas and the rival Fatah faction agreed last week to form a national unity government.
As a result, Ismail Haniya, of Hamas, resigned from his post as prime minister on Thursday and was asked by Mr Abbas, who heads Fatah, to form a new national unity government.
Ms Rice spent more than two hours in talks with Mr Abbas in the West Bank town of Ramallah on Sunday.
Before the meeting, Ms Rice said they would discuss the power-sharing agreement between Hamas and Fatah, Israeli-Palestinian issues and prospects for peace.
She was expected to go on to separate talks with Mr Olmert, before all three get together on Monday.
After arriving in Israel, Ms Rice said it was an important time to advance the vision of a Palestinian state.After arriving in Israel, Ms Rice said it was an important time to advance the vision of a Palestinian state.
Mr Olmert's comments will add to doubts about whether the US will engage with a new Palestinian unity government.Mr Olmert's comments will add to doubts about whether the US will engage with a new Palestinian unity government.
Speaking after talks with Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Ms Rice said now was "an important time to talk about how we advance the vision of two states living side-by-side in peace and in freedom".
But she and Ms Livni both stressed that any new Palestinian coalition government must recognise Israel, renounce violence and accept past peace agreements.
Many observers wonder whether the two embattled leaders, Mr Olmert and Mr Abbas, are strong enough to take the difficult steps towards peace, says the BBC's Bethany Bell in Jerusalem.Many observers wonder whether the two embattled leaders, Mr Olmert and Mr Abbas, are strong enough to take the difficult steps towards peace, says the BBC's Bethany Bell in Jerusalem.
Moderation urgedModeration urged
Speaking after talks with Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Ms Rice said now was "an important time to talk about how we advance the vision of two states living side-by-side in peace and in freedom".
Mr Abbas (right) charged Mr Haniya with forming a unity governmentBut she and Ms Livni both stressed that any new Palestinian coalition government must recognise Israel, renounce violence and accept past peace agreements.
Ms Rice arrived in Israel after a brief visit to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, where she reviewed a new security plan intended to reduce violence in the city.Ms Rice arrived in Israel after a brief visit to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, where she reviewed a new security plan intended to reduce violence in the city.
Abbas (right) charged Haniya with forming a unity government"I think that the moderates in the Palestinian side need to understand that a path towards a Palestinian state needs to go though renunciation of violence and terrorism and not by compromising with terror," said Ms Livni, after meeting the secretary of state. She said the US would "await the formation of a [Palestinian] government before making any decisions about it".
Ms Rice said the US would "await the formation of a [Palestinian] government before making any decisions about it".
"If one waited for the perfect time to come to the Middle East then one would never get on the airplane," she added."If one waited for the perfect time to come to the Middle East then one would never get on the airplane," she added.
On Thursday the Palestinian leader and Fatah chief asked former Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas to form a national unity government. Hamas' refusal to recognise Israel has led to a crippling ban on Western financial aid since the party came to power.
Factional fighting between Fatah and Hamas claimed more than 90 Palestinian lives between December and this month. Meanwhile, factional fighting between Fatah and Hamas has claimed more than 90 Palestinian lives since December.
Conditions
Hamas' refusal to recognise Israel has led to a crippling ban on Western financial aid since the party won elections in January last year.
Mr Haniya now has five weeks to get a new cabinet accepted by the Hamas-dominated parliament.Mr Haniya now has five weeks to get a new cabinet accepted by the Hamas-dominated parliament.
But if Hamas maintains its position regarding Israel, there is concern that any talks brokered by Washington will be futile. But if Hamas maintains its position regarding Israel, there is concern that any talks brokered by Washington will be futile, correspondents say.
President Abbas has called for the new administration to be given a chance.
"We will say to the Americans and to the Israelis that they must give a chance to this government," said his spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina, after Mr Abbas met US Assistant Secretary David Welch, as part of preparations for Monday's summit.
As part of the power-sharing deal it was reported that Hamas had agreed to respect past Palestinian agreements that recognise Israel.
However, the BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza says the Americans are expected to demand an explicit statement of recognition and a renunciation of violence.