U.S. again urges Palestinian authority to recognize Israel

The United States reiterated on Friday conditions for a resumption of aid to the Palestinians, saying the Palestinian leadership must recognize Israel, renounce violence and abide by past peace agreements.

"The only way forward is to have a Palestinian Authority government ... that adopts the conditions laid out by the Quartet previously back in January," acting State Department spokesman Tom Casey said at a news briefing.

"That's what we're all looking for, and I think that's what's important for us as we move forward," said Casey.

Casey made the remarks after Ahmed Yousef, political adviser to Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haneya said earlier in the day that there will be no national unity government if Hamas (Islamic Resistance Movement) is asked to recognize Israel.

The political program of the proposed unity government did not include recognizing Israel, Yousef stressed.

The quartet -- the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States -- has demanded Haniya's radical governing movement Hamas formally recognize Israel, renounce violence and abide by past peace agreements.

Washington provides humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, but no direct aid to the Palestinian Authority. Western countries also suspended aid when Hamas, which they consider to be a terror group, took over the Palestinian government earlier this year after an election victory.

Source: Xinhua