Egypt Resists US Pressure to Boycott Hamas

On Tuesday, the American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Cairo. The Egyptian government refused the American pressure to boycott the incoming Hamas-led government. Cairo stressed the need for giving Hamas enough time before judging its government.
 
Rice’s tour to the Arab countries, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and UAE, aims to rally support of Arabs to isolate Hamas, the winner in January legislative elections.
 
During the talks, ’Egypt will put emphasis on the need for giving Hamas sufficient time after setting up its government. Rushing to judgment is not preferable,’ an Egyptian diplomatic source told the state-owned Middle East News Agency.  
 
’Egypt will affirm the importance of mobilizing the international and regional efforts, especially the Quartet, the EU, and the US, to bring Palestinian and Israeli sides back to the bargaining table to set the roadmap in motion,’ the source added.
 
Despite the advice of Arab allies of the US, the American Administration threatens to withdraw funds from the Palestinian Authority when Hamas announces its government. During an interview with the Israeli TV last week, the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak warned against taking back funds because it may push Palestinians to violence.