Watch for Rice to rush to say that non-recognition of Israel and continued determination to destroy it and commit genocide against its people is no reason not to support the Palestinians. “Cabinet ‘will not recognise Israel,'” from Reuters, with thanks to Sr. Soph:
Gaza: A new Palestinian unity government to be formed after a deal in Makkah between rival Fatah and Hamas factions will not recognise Israel, a political adviser to Hamas Prime Minister Esmail Haniya said yesterday.
Ahmad Yousuf said the unity government, which he expected Haniya to unveil within 10 days, would “respect” previous Palestinian peace accords with Israel but would not be committed to them, nor to recognising the Jewish state.
Recognition of Israel is one of three conditions set by the “quartet” of international Middle East negotiators for lifting sanctions on the Hamas-led government. The quartet also demands Hamas renounce violence and accept existing peace deals.
“The issue of recognition was not addressed at all [in Makkah],” Yousuf said.
“In the platform of the new government there will be no sign of recognition [of Israel], regardless of the pressures the United States and the quartet would exert.”