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Hamas: No recognition of Israel Hamas: No recognition of Israel
(about 1 hour later)
A future Palestinian national unity government will not agree to demands that it recognise Israel, the ruling Hamas faction has said.A future Palestinian national unity government will not agree to demands that it recognise Israel, the ruling Hamas faction has said.
A new government would also refuse to accept a two-state solution in the region, Hamas officials said.
The demand that Hamas renounce violence and recognise Israel are at the heart of a dispute with Western donors who have cut off direct aid.The demand that Hamas renounce violence and recognise Israel are at the heart of a dispute with Western donors who have cut off direct aid.
Unity talks continue between Hamas and the other Palestinian faction Fatah.Unity talks continue between Hamas and the other Palestinian faction Fatah.
A Hamas spokesman said that Hamas "was not favourable to the two-state solution [a Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel] because that would entail recognition of Israel". On Monday, the factions appeared to make some progress with agreement on a candidate for prime minister.
A Hamas spokesman said on Tuesday that Hamas "was not favourable to the two-state solution [a Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel] because that would entail recognition of Israel".
Another official said the question of recognising Israel was "an unprecedented one on the international level".Another official said the question of recognising Israel was "an unprecedented one on the international level".
"The next government was not asked to recognise Israel and it will not do so," Moussa Abu Marzouq, the second-in-command of Hamas's political bureau based in Damascus, told Palestinian press agency Ramattan."The next government was not asked to recognise Israel and it will not do so," Moussa Abu Marzouq, the second-in-command of Hamas's political bureau based in Damascus, told Palestinian press agency Ramattan.
"It was not asked from the two Germanys to recognise each other, while the whole world recognised them."It was not asked from the two Germanys to recognise each other, while the whole world recognised them.
"Why should Palestine, which is not yet a state, recognise Israel?" he said, also citing as examples China and Taiwan."Why should Palestine, which is not yet a state, recognise Israel?" he said, also citing as examples China and Taiwan.
'New leader''New leader'
On Monday, the two Palestinian factions were reported to have agreed on a candidate for prime minister. Monday's reports that Fatah and Hamas had agreed on a candidate for prime minister have not been officially confirmed.
There has been no official announcement, but a senior Hamas official based in Syria said the new government would be led by Muhammad Shbeir, an academic who is close to Hamas - but says he is not a member. A senior Hamas official based in Syria said the new government would be led by Muhammad Shbeir, an academic who is close to Hamas - but says he is not a member.
The two sides have been deadlocked for months over the formation of a national unity government acceptable to the West.The two sides have been deadlocked for months over the formation of a national unity government acceptable to the West.
Sanctions on the new Hamas-led administration were imposed in March by Israel and Western countries, which see Hamas as a terrorist organisation.Sanctions on the new Hamas-led administration were imposed in March by Israel and Western countries, which see Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
The current prime minister, Ismail Haniya, said last week he was willing to resign if it would end the crippling Western aid boycott against the administration.The current prime minister, Ismail Haniya, said last week he was willing to resign if it would end the crippling Western aid boycott against the administration.