Unity government not to recognize Israel: Haneya's advisor

A political advisor of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haneya said on Saturday that the upcoming national unity government would not recognize Israel.

"The political agenda of the unity government has no sign to recognize Israel because it is based on the Prisoners' Document of National Accordance," Ahmed Yousef told Xinhua.

The document maintains Palestinians resistance right against the Israeli occupation, although it calls for an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.

Yousef's remarks came a day after Hamas and Fatah, the mainstream rivals, agreed in Mecca to form a national unity government to replace the Hamas-led one which took office last March.

As for reports saying Hamas accepted the Arab peace initiative, which includes recognizing Israel in exchange for a Palestinian statehood, Yousef said that Hamas will respect the plans, but stressed that the respect does not mean "the assent to every point of the initiatives."

Source: Xinhua