Cheney says Hamas damaging chances of Middle East peace
The US vice-president has said Iran and Syria were also hurting efforts to conclude a peace between Israel and Palestine
Monday, 24, Mar 2008 10:50
US vice president Dick Cheney has said militant Palestinian group Hamas is trying to obstruct efforts to make peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Mr Cheney has been in discussions with leaders around the Middle East this week as he paid visits to Iraq, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. He has met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders as part of efforts to re-launch the peace process between the two parties.
In comments cited by the Associated Press agency, he said that Iran and Syria were seeking to undermine peace talks by supporting Hamas - which is opposed to the existence of Israel.
He told reporters: "It is clearly a difficult situation, in part, because I think it's true, there's evidence that, Hamas is supported by Iran and Syria and that they're doing everything they can to torpedo the peace process."
Previously the US vice president has said that a Palestinian state was "long overdue" while promising Israeli leaders that he would never take action that would harm the security of the Jewish state.
He also called for "painful concessions" to be made by both states, adding that a peace deal addressing "the legitimate national claims of both peoples, would have limitless value."
The US has called on Hamas to recognise Israel and renounce violence before engaging in talks with the group. Mr Cheney has not met with any members of the group during his visit.