Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas resigned on Thursday, a formality that paved the way for the formation of a national unity government with Fatah, an aide to the premier said.Haniyeh handed his resignation to President Mahmoud Abbas, who was expected to then authorise Haniyeh to form a new coalition government, the aide said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.The United States has informed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that it will shun a future unity government with the militant Hamas group because it will not explicitly recognise Israel, Abbas aides said on Thursday.In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the US would not make judgments about the government before it is formed and before it has an official platform. The US administration also will watch the government’s actions once it takes office, he said.However, if the harsh message the Palestinians say they received is true, it would be a severe blow to Abbas. The Palestinians leader is a Fatah moderate who has been trying to implement a power-sharing deal with Hamas to end Palestinian infighting and to lift crippling international sanctions on the government.The aides said US officials indicated that all members of the future unity government, including independents and those belonging to Fatah, would be shunned. The US government would still maintain ties with Abbas and his office.Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert are to hold a joint meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice on Monday.
