[Reuters] Alistair Lyon - Four weeks after their Saudi-brokered agreement to form a coalition, Fatah and Hamas are still arguing over the details. For now, the big powers are suspending judgment, but the U.S. will be in no rush to end a political and financial boycott it imposed on the PA after Hamas won power in January 2006. The Quartet has insisted any Palestinian government recognize Israel, renounce violence, and accept past peace deals - conditions Hamas has refused to meet. "I have no expectation of a change in U.S. policy," said Mouin Rabbani, an International Crisis Group analyst. "The Europeans, despite what they might think or feel, are probably not going to get into a conflict with Washington over this." "Don't expect an immediate turning on of the tap of Western aid if a unity government is formed," a European diplomat said, adding that it might take six months for the PA's finance minister to bring donors a credible proposal.
2007-03-08 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive