China welcomes Palestinian reconciliation deal_美文

China welcomes Palestinian reconciliation deal

"If a new Palestinian government is formed, we will assess it based on its adherence to the stipulations above, its policies and actions, and will determine any implications for our assistance based on US law," the official said.

Providing US aid to a unity government that includes Hamas would be assisting a group the US lists as a terrorist organization.

Meanwhile, Israel canceled a session of talks with the Palestinians that had been scheduled for Wednesday, and the US State Department said the move could derail peace efforts.

Israel's foreign minister said a peace deal with the Palestinians is impossible in light of the agreement to form a unity government.

Avigdor Lieberman told Israel Radio on Thursday that Israel should resist pressure to resume talks with Abbas.

Lieberman said Abbas is involved in "political terror" and reached the deal with Hamas in order to thwart peace talks.

On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Abbas needs to decide whether he wants peace with Israel or the Hamas movement, stressing that only one of those options is attainable.

Abbas responded that the reconciliation agreement does not at all contradict the peace talks with Israel.

"It is in the Palestinian people's interests to restore unity of land and unity of people," and "this unity will boost the establishment of the Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital," Abbas said in an e-mailed statement Wednesday.