The US and Israel will shun a Palestinian unity government unless it recognises Israel, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says. Hamas, the biggest group in the proposed Palestinian unity government, refuses to recognise Israel.

Olmert is of the opinion that a Palestinian government that failed to accept conditions laid down by the quartet of the US, EU, Russia and UN “cannot get recognition and there will not be co-operation with it. The quartet on his part has called on the Palestinians to recognise the state of Israel and give up violence against it.

Whereas, EU, US and Russia have maintained an economic boycott of the Palestinian government since Hamas won legislative elections last year. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice holding separate meetings with Olmert and Abbas before the three are due to get together on Monday. After arriving in Israel, Rice said it was quite a pivotal time to advance the vision of a Palestinian state.

Via: BBC