Egypt Rejects U.S. Strategy On Hamas
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-Foreign Minister tells Rice that the group should be given time to evolve-

By Glenn Kessler
Original Source: Washington Post
Via: Houston Chronicle

Cairo--Egypt rejected U.S. efforts Tuesday to win International support for a U.S. clampdown on aid to the Palestinian Authority when Hamas ministers take power, arguing that the radical Islamic group should be given time to accept Israel.

"I'm sure that Hamas will develop, will evolve. We should not prejudice the issue,"
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit told reporters at a news conference with
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who arrived here on the first leg of a Middle Eastern tour to line up support for the U.S. position.

Egypt does not provide much aid to the Palestinians but has broad influence in the Arab world on Israeli-Palestinian issues, so the rebuff could hamper Rice's efforts to build a united front against the rise of Hamas.

Today, Rice flies to Saudi Arabia and will address officials from Arab countries in the Persian Gulf on Thursday in the United Arab Emirates.

The lengthy news conference with Aboul Gheit underscored the daunting and at times contradictory challenge Rice faces as she tries to fashion an International response to Hamas' unexpected victory in Palestinian elections.

In effect, she urged pressure on the victor of an election she has hailed as fair and transparent, while seeking the support of an autocratic government that she has demanded must become more free.

Addressing Egypt's faltering steps toward an open political system,
Rice spoke vaguely of "disappointments and setbacks" yet only mentioned the case of Jailed activist Ayman Nour--whom she championed last year--when prompted by a question.

And she praised President Hosni Mubarak, who critics say manipulated elections to ensure the defeat of secular, moderate parties.

Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by the State Department, making it but impossible for the U.S. to provide anything beyond humanitarian aid to the Palestinian Authority.

Source:
http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/3676345.html