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America Skeptical on Palestinian Unity Talks

In a press conference at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, deputy State Dept spokesman Tom Casey said on Tuesday that while America was glad to see a unity government between Hamas and Fatah in the Palestinian Authority, there is still much "we don`t know about this plan." Hamas "certainly has failed to govern responsibly and failed to fulfill the aspirations of the Palestinian people," Casey emphasized. "Obviously, certain criteria must be met so that there can be a Palestinian partner for peace with Israel."

Casey noted that despite an embargo on the Palestinian Authority which began after the election of the Hamas terror group into the premiership, "we`re continuing to be mindful of the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people, and that`s why we are continuing to work despite the concerns that we`ve had, and by present count, we are at $468 million in direct assistance this year alone."

About the coalition agreement between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas` Fatah and Prime Miniter Ismail Haniyeh`s Hamas, Casey stated "What I can say is from what we`ve seen so far, we are certainly concerned that the National Unity Government does not appear to meet the Quartet`s call for a Palestinian Authority Government that meets specific criteria that we`ve outlined before which includes renouncing terrorism and violence, recognizing Israel, and accepting all the previous agreements between the parties, and certainly that would include the roadmap."