Israel steps up anti-P.A. campaign

Israel is stepping up its international campaign against the planned
Palestinian Authority coalition government. Israeli officials said Thursday
that, with the governing Palestinian Authority faction Hamas and the
relatively moderate Fatah expected to announce their new unity Cabinet within days,
Israel would try to prevent its acceptance abroad. Hamas has rejected the
demands of the “Quartet” of foreign peace mediators that it recognize Israel and
renounce terrorism as preconditions for renewed engagement. Its power-sharing
deal with Fatah, signed last month, contains only a vague reference to
“respecting” past Israeli-Palestinian accords, and Hamas leaders have vowed to
continue “resistance” until Israel gives up the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem and
grants Palestinian refugees a “right of return” to its territory. Those
conditions have been ruled out by Israel.