U.S. government plans to shun a future Hamas-Fatah coalition

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Aides to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that U.S. diplomats told them Washington plans to shun a future Hamas-Fatah coalition government because it will not explicitly recognize Israel.\nState Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the U.S. would not make judgments about the unity government before it is formed and has an official platform. The Bush administration also will watch the government's actions once it takes office, he said.\nIf the U.S. decides to shun a new Hamas-Fatah government, it would be a severe blow to Abbas. The Fatah moderate leader has been trying to implement a power-sharing deal with Hamas to end Palestinian infighting and lift crippling international sanctions against the government.\nLast week, the two political rivals reached a coalition agreement in Saudi Arabia, and the Hamas-led government was expected to resign later Thursday to pave the way for a unity government.\nWashington had previously withheld judgment on the power-sharing deal.\nAbbas' aides said he received word of the new U.S. position in a phone call from Assistant Secretary of State David Welch late Wednesday. Jacob Walles, the U.S. consul general in Jerusalem, then delivered the same message to Abbas in person on Thursday, the aides said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the issue.\nWhile the U.S. government said it would not deal with the coalition government, it would still maintain ties with Abbas and his office, his aides said.\nAbbas planned to meet Saturday with Welch and Sunday with visiting Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to try to change their minds, the aides said. Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert are also scheduled to hold a joint meeting with Rice on Monday.\nPalestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat would only say that U.S. officials have made it clear to the Palestinians that any government must adhere to the principles laid out by the so-called Quartet of Mideast mediators -- recognize Israel, renounce violence and back previous peace deals with Israel.\nThe Saudi accord reached last week says only that the future government would "respect" past agreements.\nErekat met with senior U.S. officials in Washington last week to prepare for the three-way Mideast summit in Jerusalem on Monday. He also was involved in the meeting Thursday between Abbas and the U.S. diplomat.