U.S., Israel Deny Anti-Hamas Plan - Los Angeles Times

U.S., Israel Deny Anti-Hamas Plan - Los Angeles Times

U.S., Israel Deny Anti-Hamas Plan
From Associated Press

JERUSALEM — U.S. and Israeli officials denied Tuesday that they were exploring ways to topple the Palestinian Authority's incoming Hamas government if it did not renounce its violent ideology and recognize Israel's right to exist.

The State Department said it was reviewing U.S. aid to the Palestinians and would make a decision within two weeks.


Exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said in Sudan that his group had no plans to recognize Israel.

"There will be no recognition of Israel and there will be no security for the occupation and colonization forces," Meshaal said at a rally in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital. "Resistance will remain our strategic option."

The New York Times, citing unidentified U.S. and Israeli officials, reported Tuesday that the U.S. and Israel were considering a campaign to starve the Palestinian Authority of cash in hope that Palestinians would grow disillusioned and bring down a Hamas government.

However, Israeli Ambassador Daniel Ayalon said in Washington, "There are no ongoing discussions with the U.S. designed to bring down the Palestinian government.

"There is no conspiracy between Israel and the United States to hurt the Palestinian people, and there is no plan whatsoever to compromise the well-being of the Palestinian people."

A Hamas official protested the reported plan, saying attempts to bring down a future Hamas government were hypocritical.

"This is … a rejection of the democratic process, which the Americans are calling for day and night," incoming legislator Mushir Masri said. "It's an interference and a collective punishment of our people because they practiced the democratic process in a transparent and honest way."

In Washington, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said, "There's no plot."

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said he was puzzled by the report. He reiterated the demands of the so-called quartet of Mideast peace negotiators: that Hamas recognize Israel, renounce terrorism and accept previous agreements reached by the Palestinians. The quartet — the United States, United Nations, European Union and Russia — backs the "road map" peace plan envisioning a Palestinian state next to Israel.

Hamas trounced Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party in legislative elections last month and is poised to form a new government. Hamas swept to power on the strength of public dissatisfaction with Fatah's failure to eradicate lawlessness and corruption.