GAZA, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- The United States, rather than Hamas, must change its policies if it hopes for Mideast peace, a Hamas Palestinian cabinet spokesman said in Gaza Saturday.
Hamas should not be required to recognize Israel, renounce violence and abide by past agreements, The Jerusalem Post quoted Ghazi Hamad as saying.
"The Americans should not demand from the Palestinian side to commit or to abide by the Quartet conditions," Hamad said. "The Americans should change their own policy and ask Israel to change its policies toward the Palestinian people."
Hamas has vowed to destroy Israel and has said any Palestinian unity government it joins will not recognize Israel's right to exist.
But Deputy Palestinian Prime Minister Naser al-Shaer said rival Palestinian factions had reached a "consensus" that the unity government's program would be separate from that of Hamas.
Washington may push for an international peace conference in Jordan within a month, the newspaper said.
