Olmert aides rally US support for keeping Hamas ban

Source: Manartv, 4-3-2007
"Israeli" occupation Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has dispatched two senior aides to Washington to convince its top ally to keep up its boycott of the Palestinians and Hamas movement, an official said Sunday.
"The visit aims to prepare the ground for a new meeting between the prime minister and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and to assure us that the United States will not negotiate with a government that includes Hamas ministers," the official said.
Heading for talks in Washington are Yoram Trubowicz, Olmert`s chief of staff, and Shalom Turjeman, a political advisor. They are due to meet with, among others, Stephen Hadley, the US national security advisor.
After Hamas and Abbas` Fatah faction reached a deal over forming a national unity government in Mecca last month, pressure has been growing on the international community to deal with the new, as yet unformed cabinet.
But the Jewish state wants the West to keep up its boycott of a government that includes Hamas unless it agrees to abide by conditions set out by the international Quartet for Middle East peace - renouncing violence, recognizing "Israel" and abiding by past peace deals.
The Palestinians are hoping that the new coalition cabinet will lead to the lifting of a freeze on direct aid to the Palestinians that has ravaged the economy in the territories.