Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday said that a Palestinian unity government with Hamas must support a two-state solution, reiterating a call by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the Islamic group to recognize Israel.
In a Ramallah speech, Abbas said progress was being made toward establishing a Palestinian unity government "that will be committed to our values and will respect agreements previously signed by the Palestinian Authority," Army Radio reported.
However, Hamas official Aiman Taha reportedly stressed that his group rejects any kind of preconditions and noted that Abbas's speech was lowering the prospects that the reconciliation talks between the Fatah and Hamas will succeed.
"Hamas will never agree to sit in a government that recognizes Israel," he reportedly said.
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