Israel's foreign minister canceled a visit to Qatar for a U.N. conference because the Palestinian Authority is sending a delegation of Hamas lawmakers as its representatives, an Israeli ministry official said Sunday.
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's trip would have been the first high-level visit by an Israeli official to Qatar in 10 years. Livni decided against the trip when she learned that Hamas deputies were to participate in the conference, said ministry spokesman Mark Regev, according to the AP. "Israel's policy is that until the Hamas accepts Kofi Annan's three benchmarks - recognition of Israel, renunciation of terrorism and recognition of signed agreements - there can be no legitimacy given to Hamas," Regev said.
