Israel is considering suspending contacts with moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas if his new unity government with Hamas does not meet international demands, Israeli officials said yesterday. The unity deal and Israel's response could hamper US efforts to revive long-stalled peace talks. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice plans a three-way summit with Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem on February 19. "One option under serious discussion is severing contacts with Abu Mazen," said one of the officials involved in the deliberations, referring to Abbas by his nickname.An Israeli defence official said ties with Mohammed Dahlan, a top Abbas aide who had spearheaded Fatah's power struggle with Hamas, were also in doubt. Dahlan took part in the unity talks though his role in the new Palestinian government is unclear. "Things are really in the air," the defence official said.
Israeli officials said any suspension may only be temporary. Top advisers to Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and other ministers were to meet later on Monday to consider the options. Olmert's spokeswoman, Miri Eisin, declined to comment on what she called "hypotheticals."