Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoudal-Zahar said on Tuesday that the Hamas-led government would not recognize Israel, nor would meet international demands.

"The Palestinian government's position is steady and didn't change," Zahar, who is from Hamas, said in a news conference held in Gaza after his meeting with Brazilian ambassador in Jerusalem.

"It won't recognize Israel, won't meet the international quartet's demands, won't respect signed deals and will continue resistance," he clarified.

The international community demands Hamas to recognize Israel, renounce violence and honor previous peace deals.

Zahar argued that the nine previous Palestinian governments had abided by the international demands but failed to serve people or satisfy their minimum political and economical demands.

Zahar's remarks came one day after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas canceled his meeting with Prime Minister Ismail Haneya, who is also a senior Hamas official.

Regarding the meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Zahar said that Abbas did not cancel the meeting but "postponed it for some internal problems."

Zahar added that the Hamas would meet with Abbas' deputy who would participate in meetings in Gaza to discuss the formation of a national unity government.

The talks between the ruling Hamas movement and Abbas' Fatah on the coalition government was to some extent in a stalemate after the initial agreement on forming such a government reached on Sept. 11.

Abbas' Fatah movement has accused Hamas of reneging on the agreement.

(Xinhua News Agency September 27, 2006)