The United States on Wednesday urged the Palestinians to implement their reconciliation agreement in a way that "advances the prospects of peace rather than undermines them."
"We understand that they've reached this reconciliation agreement.
It's important now that Palestinians ensure implementation of that agreement in a way that advances the prospects of peace rather than
undermines them," U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters at the department.
Palestinian rival factions Fatah and Hamas on Wednesday signed a preliminary agreement on reconciliation during talks in Cairo, paving
the way for forming an interim government to prepare for elections.
Toner said that the U.S. would wait to see what the details of the agreement actually mean, adding that "but we've been clear all along the principles to which we think any Hamas element in the government
would have to adhere to, and that is, you know, recognition of the state of Israel, a commitment to nonviolence, and the acceptance of the previous agreements and obligations between the parties, including the road map."
"We've been clear about those all along that if Hamas wants to play a meaningful role in the political process there and, indeed, in the
peace process, and they need to adhere to these principles, these core principles," Toner added.
Hamas' founding charter calls for Israel's destruction and the group has opposed a negotiated peace with it.