Rice won't give new PA government peace ultimatum

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Source: Agence France-Presse
February 16, 2007

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday denied reports that American officials had threatened that Washington would sever ties with the Palestinian Authority if its new unity government fails to recognize Israel's right to exist and renounce terrorism.

Speaking to Arab media while en route to the Middle East, Rice suggested the US intends to continue its relationship with the PA regardless of its platform.

"We have said that we will wait until the (new Hamas-Fatah) government is formed and then we'll make a decision about how to deal with that government," Rice told Saudi Arabia's Al-Arabiya satellite network.

Rice is scheduled to hold a three-way peace summit with PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert next Monday in Jerusalem.

America's top diplomat appears ready to accept Abbas' proposal that the half of the "Palestinian" government controlled by him will conduct peace talks with Israel, while the half controlled by Hamas remains dedicated to Israel's destruction.

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