By NNN-KUNA,
Washington : The United States has expressed scepticism over Hamas’ willingness to accept Israel as a neighbour.
“If Hamas got out of the terrorism business and recognises Israel, that would be a different situation and potentially would mean a different kind of relationship between Hamas and the international community,” said State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey in a press briefing Monday.
“But I think, unfortunately, we are not likely to see that any time soon,” he added.
Former President Jimmy Carter is on a Middle East trip where he met with leaders of Hamas in Syria and Egypt to make a breakthrough on the negotiation track. The former president recently declared that Hamas is ready to accept Israel as a neighbour.
Casey reiterated the US administration’s stance that Carter made this initiative on his own.
“We counselled him against engaging with Hamas in keeping with long-standing US policy,” said Casey.
Carter, in an interview with the National Public Radio Monday, said that US Assistant Secretary of Near Eastern Affairs David Welch did not advise him during their phone discussion not to meet with Hamas leaders, contradicting statements by the State Department last week.
“Nothing has changed, in terms of Hamas’ basic views about Israel and about peace in the region,” said Casey while noting that Hamas still did not accept the basic Quartet principles — recognising Israel, renouncing terrorism and endorsing all previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.