Clinton with special envoy Mitchell
Photo: AFP
Clinton: Hamas must agree to conditions
US secretary of state reiterates administration's demand that Hamas renounce violence, recognize Israel as prerequisite for any true progress on regional peace talks; says special envoy Mitchell will return to area before month's end
The United States wants to work with all parties to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but the Islamist group Hamas must renounce violence, recognize Israel and respect past peace agreements, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday.
"We are looking to work with all of the parties to try to help them make progress toward a negotiated agreement that would end the conflict," Clinton told reporters after meeting US special envoy George Mitchell.
Progress?
AP and Ali Waked
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"Hamas knows the conditions ... They must renounce violence, they must recognize Israel, they must agree to abide by prior agreements."
Mitchell is scheduled to return to the region later this month.
"This is the first of what will be an ongoing high level of engagement by Senator Mitchell on behalf of myself and the president," Clinton said.
"We are not able to look into the future to see whether there will be changes on the part of Hamas that (would) meet our conditions but, you know, certainly that would be a clear path for them to follow," she added.
She said the United States wanted to help create an independent and viable Palestinian state in both the West Bank, ruled by Western-backed President Mahmoud Abbas, and Hamas-ruled Gaza.
Mitchell, who helped broker peace in Northern Ireland, said the situation was "obviously complex and difficult," but he was convinced that with patient diplomacy the United States could help achieve a long-term peace.
"There are no easy or risk-free courses of action," he told reporters. "I plan to establish a regular and sustained presence in the region."
