Hamas rejects Blair's coalition conditions

The ruling Hamas militant group today rejected calls by British Prime Minister Tony Blair to moderate its violently anti-Israel ideology.

During a trip to the West Bank, Blair said the international community should restore contacts with the Palestinian government if Hamas forms a unity government that accepts Western demands to renounce violence and recognise Israel.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the group is ready to form a coalition government with the more moderate Fatah movement, but “not according to standards that are dictated".

“I want to renew our rejection of these (Western) decisions because we consider them as biased, unjust and conditional decisions,” Abu Zuhri said.

Blair became the first Western leader to signal that a Palestinian government which includes members of Hamas could be acceptable. The international community has been boycotting Hamas, which the European Union and US consider a terrorist group, since it won elections in January.

Blair spoke after a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a moderate who has been trying to persuade Hamas to join a unity government. Abbas believes a coalition would force Hamas to soften its anti-Israel ideology.

Blair said the government would have to accept the requirements set by the “Quartet” of Mideast peacemakers – renouncing violence, recognition of Israel and accepting previous peace agreements with the Jewish state.

“If such a government is formed, I believe it is right that the international community deals with such a government,” Blair said.

Hamas has so far rejected the international demands, despite crippling economic sanctions that have caused widespread hardship in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Abbas said: “We are serious about putting together a national unity government to put an end to the siege imposed on us.”