Quartet gives Hamas time to change its stripes

Meeting in London in the wake of Hamas's stunning victory in last week's Palestinian elections, the diplomatic Quartet on Middle East peace -- which also includes the United Nations -- pledged to keep money flowing into Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas's interim caretaker administration.

"We do believe that Abu Mazen needs to be supported," said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, using Abbas's nom de guerre, ensuring that funds will be available to pay for Palestinian police officers and civil servants.

But the Quartet warned that the Palestinians' critical lifeline of foreign aid could be lost in the longer term unless Hamas -- perpetrator of deadly suicide bomb attacks on Israelis -- abandons violence, recognises Israel and embraces the diplomatic "roap map" to peace.

That blueprint to peace envisions an independent Palestinian nation living side by side with the Jewish state.

The Hamas movement swiftly rejected the quartet's demands which the radical group said served only Israel's interests.

"The conditions posed by the quartet constitute pressure which serves the interests of Israel and not the Palestinian people," Hamas MP and spokesman Mosheer al-Masri told AFP.

"The main problem is the (Israeli) occupation and not the democratic choice made by the Palestinian people," he said.

Al-Masri added that if the international aid continued to flow "the next (Hamas) government will ensure that it is used according to the law and not allow corruption.

The Quartet, in a late-night statement said they believe "that the Palestinian people have the right to expect that a new government will address their aspirations for peace and statehood".

But the statement stressed that "future assistance to any future government would be reviewed by donors against the government's commitment to the principles of non-violence, recognition of Israel and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the road map."

With three months likely to pass before a new Palestinian government is formed, the Quartet's stance amounts to a watch period for Hamas to change its stripes if it wants to be accepted as a serious partner in the peace process.

A senior Hamas leader, Ismail Haniya, appealed earlier Monday in Gaza City to the Quartet to meet the radical Islamist organisation for "a dialogue without preliminary conditions and in a spirit of neutrality".

Israel meanwhile declared that it has decided to freeze funds to the Palestinian Authority, fearing the money could end up being used to attack and kill Israeli citizens.

Two million shekels (35 million dollars) -- drawn mainly sales tax revenues and customs duties on Palestinian-bound goods passing through Israel -- were due to be handed over to the Palestinian Authority on Wednesday.

Pressed on how long the European Union -- a major contributor to Palestinian coffers -- would be prepared to give Hamas, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said: "I think that it will depend how long it takes in time for the formation of the government."

"According to the president (Mahmud Abbas), it will probably take about three months or something like that, in which the negotiation will have to take place between the president and the majority group."

"That is the time in which they have to clarify all these things. If we have not got any sign that they move in that direction it will be very difficult."

The EU has given about 500 million euros (613 million dollars) annually to the Palestinians since 2003, but the decisive win by Hamas has left the bloc in a quandry because the group figures on both US and EU terrorist blacklists.

Earlier Monday, Rice said the United States -- in synch with its allies in the fitful quest for a lasting Middle East peace -- was waiting to see if Hamas would live up to the obligations for peace.

"You cannot with one hand talk about peace with Israel and on the other hand countenance suicide bombings... There are choices now comfronting Hamas and we will see what they do."

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