Senator Hillary Clinton, future US president Barack Obama's choice for the post of secretary of state, has ruled out talks with Hamas during her Senate confirmation hearings. "We cannot negotiate with Hamas until it renounces violence, recognizes Israel and agrees to abide by past agreements. That is just, for me, an absolute," Ms. Clinton said, echoing the long-standing policy of previous US administrations.
"The president-elect and I understand and are deeply sympathetic to Israel's desire to defend itself under the current conditions and to be free of shelling by Hamas rockets," she said. In a day-long session, Clinton made no direct reference to the more than 900 Palestinians killed by Israeli troops and aircraft in the impoverished and densely populated Gaza Strip, from where Hamas militiamen continue to launch missiles into Israel. The Gaza issue threatens to be the single most serious foreign policy challenge that will greet Obama when he becomes president next Tuesday. "We have also been reminded of the tragic humanitarian cost of conflict in the Middle East and pained by the suffering of Palestinian and Israeli civilians," Hillary Clinton said.
