US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday expressed doubt that rival Palestinian factions will reach a deal on a unity government, but wanted to keep options open if they do. "We doubt there will be such a unity agreement. There doesn't seem to be one in store, but we don't want to bind our hands in the event that such an agreement is reached," Clinton told the House appropriations committee.
According to AFP, Clinton told lawmakers that any unity government would have to meet high standards of transparency. "No aid will flow to Hamas or any entity controlled by Hamas," she said while asking for 840 million dollars in supplemental funds for the Palestinians this year.
The chief US diplomat promised that Washington would not deal with any unity government that failed to meet international principles for peace such as halting violence against Israel and recognizing Israel's right to exist. "If the government complies with it, that is what we're looking for," Clinton conveyed.
