March 30, 2006
Mideast 'Quartet' Warns Hamas
U.S., EU, U.N., Russia Say Palestinians Must Recognize Israel, Talk
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Newly installed Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, after he was sworn in, March 29, 2006. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
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A protest against the lack of jobs in the central Gaza Strip March 30, 2006. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)
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Photo Essay Historic Vote Palestinians vote in their first parliamentary election in a decade.
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Interactive Shaping Israel Israelis vote in an election labeled as a referendum on the country's future in the West Bank
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Interactive Mideast Conflict Events, key players and a history of the world's most unstable region.
"The Quartet concurred that there inevitably will be an effect on direct assistance to that government and its ministries" if those conditions are not met, the four mediators for Middle East peace said in a statement.
The new Palestinian government led by the Islamic militant group began work Thursday, reports CBS News correspondent Robert Berger (audio), already facing major challenges: namely, western isolation and a shortage of cash.
As soon as the government was sworn in Wednesday, the U.S. cut off contacts with the Palestinian Authority, and Canada suspended aid. Israel had already cut off $50 million dollars in monthly tax payments.
Hamas does not have the money to pay the salaries of 140,000 government employees that are due in few days.
In other developments:
The Quartet called in its statement on the new government "to commit to the principles of nonviolence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations."
That includes the internationally backed "roadmap" for peace, drafted by the quartet group, meant to draw up a final peace accord between the two sides.
"The Quartet recalled its view that future assistance to any new government would be reviewed by donors against that government's commitment to the principles" it had set out, the statement said.
After assessing the new government program, the four "noted with grave concern that the new government has not committed to the principles spelled out" earlier this year.
Zahar hinted that any country that shuns Hamas will be considered "an enemy of the Palestinian people" and he warned foreign ministry employees not to talk to them.
©MMVI CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
