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US and Palestinian officials meet | |
(about 19 hours later) | |
Palestinian finance minister Salam Fayyad says he has met the US consul general in Jerusalem, Jacob Walles, in the West Bank town of Ramallah. | Palestinian finance minister Salam Fayyad says he has met the US consul general in Jerusalem, Jacob Walles, in the West Bank town of Ramallah. |
Mr Fayyad is a political independent included in the Hamas-led government. | Mr Fayyad is a political independent included in the Hamas-led government. |
Correspondents say the meeting is the first between a US official and a member of the new unity cabinet. | Correspondents say the meeting is the first between a US official and a member of the new unity cabinet. |
Israel is boycotting the government, while the US and EU have withheld recognition but left a door open for some future ties. | |
They say they will judge the government on its actions and have indicated they will maintain contacts with ministers who are not members of Hamas - which they consider a terrorist organisation. | They say they will judge the government on its actions and have indicated they will maintain contacts with ministers who are not members of Hamas - which they consider a terrorist organisation. |
A former World Bank official, Mr Fayyad is not a member of Hamas. He has held the Palestinian finance portfolio before and won international respect as a keen reformer. | A former World Bank official, Mr Fayyad is not a member of Hamas. He has held the Palestinian finance portfolio before and won international respect as a keen reformer. |
'Right to resist' | 'Right to resist' |
The Palestinian government had earlier defended its opening policy statement, in which Prime Minister Ismail Haniya said Palestinians had the right to resist Israeli occupation. | The Palestinian government had earlier defended its opening policy statement, in which Prime Minister Ismail Haniya said Palestinians had the right to resist Israeli occupation. |
Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti said the government opposed any attacks on civilians and endorsed only resistance that was acceptable under international law. | Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti said the government opposed any attacks on civilians and endorsed only resistance that was acceptable under international law. |
He said Palestinians were also ready to end all forms of violence if Israel would agree to a comprehensive ceasefire. | He said Palestinians were also ready to end all forms of violence if Israel would agree to a comprehensive ceasefire. |
Israel and the US have criticised the statement. | Israel and the US have criticised the statement. |
Israel says it will not deal with the new administration, and has called for a continued international boycott. | Israel says it will not deal with the new administration, and has called for a continued international boycott. |
On Thursday, Mr Haniya unveiled a national unity cabinet after months of negotiations between his Hamas movement and Fatah. | On Thursday, Mr Haniya unveiled a national unity cabinet after months of negotiations between his Hamas movement and Fatah. |
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