Source: Ha'aretz
Sep 17, 2006
Bush administration officials have let Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas know that the United States has not been fooled by efforts to dilute the Hamas component of the PA.
Abbas and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh have been scheming for months on how to get foreign sponsorhip of the PA resumed after it was suspended due to Hamas' victory in the Arab elections last January.
The plan, announced by Abbas last week, was to disband the current PA and reform it into a "unity government" with more Fatah and fewer Hamas members.
Haniyeh initially approved the idea but balked at Abbas' insistence that Hamas recognize Israel - one of the three base demands of the so-called Quartet.
With America's expressed determination to not work with the PA even if a "unity government" is formed (unless Hamas complies with the Quartet's demands), Haniyeh is having second thoughts about his previously expressed readiness to go with Abbas' plan.