Israel hopeful for moderate Palestinian govt

Los Angeles, Nov 11: Israel's minister of foreign affairs has welcomed news that Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh from Hamas may step aside and allow the Palestinian Authority to form a moderate government willing to work with Israel.

''There is hope for the moderates, those who believe in the two-state solution,'' Tzipi Livni, who is also deputy prime minister, told reporters yesterday while on a visit to Los Angeles.

Haniyeh said earlier yesterday in Gaza that he may not head a unity government Hamas was trying to forge with the rival Fatah faction as a way to lift a Western embargo.

While Livni was optimistic of a breakthrough, she also urged the international community to remain tough with Hamas.

The United States and Europe imposed crippling sanctions on the Palestinian Authority when Hamas took power in March because of the group's refusal to recognize Israel and renounce violence. Israel also withheld tax and customs receipts.

She said Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert wanted to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah to move the process along.

''The idea is to strengthen Abu Mazen (Abbas) in order to give him the possibility to send a message to the moderate Palestinians that there is another way, not only the Hamas way but also his way,'' she said.

Olmert said on Thursday Abbas would be surprised by what Israel could offer him, but did not elaborate.

Olmert travels to the United States this weekend to meet with President George W Bush in Washington and a gathering of Jewish leaders in Los Angeles.

Reuters