RAMALLAH, Feb 15: The United States has informed President Mahmud Abbas that Washington will not deal with an incoming Palestinian unity government, a senior Palestinian official said on Thursday.

The statement came hours before the Hamas-led Palestinian government resigned and President Mahmud Abbas formally tasked Prime Minister Ismail Haniya with forming a new unity administration.

The US position was conveyed to Mr Abbas by the consul-general to Jerusalem, Jacob Walles, during a meeting in the West Bank political capital of Ramallah, said the official.

“The American administration informed President Abbas it was refusing to work with the new Palestinian government because it does not fulfil clearly the conditions imposed by the Quartet,” the official added.

In Washington, a White House spokesman confirmed the American position. “Our conditions always remain the same,” spokesman Tony Snow said.

“You want a two-state solution, the Palestinians deserve a state, they deserve a state living side by side in peace with Israel,” Mr Snow told reporters.

“Israel needs a negotiating partner that acknowledges Israel's right to exist, renounces the use of violence against Israel and also abide by previous international agreements involving the Palestinians and Israel,” he said.

“Those are the basic conditions and we certainly hope that Israel will find that partner we've worked with President Abbas and we continue to do what we can.” Mr Abbas and Hamas supremo Khaled Meshaal reached an agreement on Feb 8.—Agencies