The United States will continue to offer humanitarian aid to the
Palestinians despite a stance taken by the ruling Islamic
Resistance Movement (Hamas), visiting US Assistant Secretary of
State David Welch said on Monday.
Speaking to reporters, Welch said the United States encourages
and supports peace in Palestine and a two-state vision --Palestine
and Israel living side by side in security and peace.
He said the position of the quartet committee -- the United
States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia, on Hamas
remained unchanged.
The quartet committee, a longtime mediator over the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict, urges Hamas to renounce violence,
recognize Israel's existence and honor previous agreements.
The quartet claims that there will be an inevitable impact on
direct aid to the Palestinian government, if Hamas, which is
committed to Israel's destruction, did not meet requirements.
On the Iraqi issue, Welch said the situation there is difficult
and a strong coalition government is needed to lead the Iraqi
people to the future.
(Xinhua News Agency April 4, 2006)
