Hamas Won't Recognize Past Agreements with Israel, Falling Short of Demands

Palestinian PM Ismail Haniyeh said that Hamas won't formally recognize Israeli-Palestinian peace agreements, but will "work with" them. This came one day after the EU held off on resuming direct aid to the Palestinian Authority.

Haniyeh suggested that Hamas would go no further than it already has. The agreement on the national unity government "does not discuss the recognition of agreements signed with the Israeli occupation," Haniyeh said. "We will work with these agreements according to what serves the higher Palestinian interests, but that does not mean we recognise them."

This obviously does not meet the requirements that the Quartet set out months ago for the Hamas-led government: recognize Israel, renounce terror and accept all prior agreements with Israel.