US, Israel threaten to shun Palestinian govt

[Doondoo]

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says the US has agreed to a joint boycott of a future Palestinian unity government if it refuses to recognise Israel and renounce violence.

Mr Olmert has made the comments ahead of talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is in the Middle East to try to revive the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.

Dr Rice is also due to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas before a three-way summit with both leaders tomorrow.

Mr Abbas and the Islamist Hamas movement have agreed to form a unity government but Hamas, which would be the largest group in the authority, refuses to recognise Israel.

Mr Olmert says a Palestinian government that does not accept conditions set by the quartet of the US, European Union, Britain and the United Nations "cannot receive recognition and there will not be cooperation with it".

The quartet has called on a unity government to recognise Israel, renounce violence and abide by existing interim peace accords.

"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.


http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200702/s1850673.htm