The ruling Islamic militant group Hamas said Tuesday the agenda of the proposed Palestinian unity government would not recognize Israel or accept a two-state solution.

"We reject the two-state solution, which is the vision of U.S. President George Bush, because it represents a clear recognition of Israel," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said.

"Our position in this regard remains unchanged. We reject joining in any government that recognizes Israel."

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In comments published Tuesday Hamas Damascus-based leader Khaled Meshal said that the Palestinian government led by his movement has exposed the weakness of the Palestinian Authority.

In an interview published by the Arab language Egyptian daily Al-Aharam, Meshal said "Hamas' partnership in the PA government was an unavoidable experiment, as part of the movement's natural evolution."

"This experiment exposed the PA's incapability to be sovereign, and lack of solid foundations [of government]," he added.

The head of the Hamas political bureau also said that violence on the Palestinian street was the outcome of "the absence of a national unity government." But despite tensions between some Hamas and Fatah leaders, they have good relations.

According to the Hamas leader there is no need for an all-out war against Israel: "We do not call on Arabs to engage in war of regular armies against Israel, but we do call upon them to act meaningfully in order to bravely break through the siege on the Palestinian people."

Academic accepts Hamas offer to be premier
On Monday, a Hamas official said that U.S.-educated university professor Dr. Mohammed Shabir has accepted the offer to be the Palestinian prime minister in the unity government, a Hamas official said Monday.

Officials from the rival Fatah and Hamas parties on Monday said they had agreed upon Shabir, the former president of the Islamic University in Gaza, as the prime minister.

Shabir told Haaretz earlier Monday that he maintains "sound relations with all," including the United States, but would only be willing to address his views on Israel after he was officially named to the post.

"I will make my position clear after the appointment," he said, but added that he would act "realistically."

He said that he is not linked to any one organization, but is rather an independent.

Shabir, who has a doctorate in microbiology from the University of West Virginia, is considered to be close to Hamas, but he is not an active supporter, nor is he identified with any Palestinian organization.

Hamas and Fatah hope that Shabir, considered to be relatively moderate, will be acceptable to the international community and would help convince the West to lift debilitating economic sanctions that have crippled the government since it took power in March.

Palestinian sources said that several other key positions in their cabinet of experts will probably be filled by figures that are considered moderate and acceptable to the United States.

They said that Abbas, who has already agreed to the candidacy of Shubair as prime minister, hopes to make Ziad Abu Amar foreign minister.

Abu Amar, an academic who frequently speaks at U.S. universities, was supported by Hamas in the last parliamentary election.

The sources say that Salam Fayad, who served as finance minister in previous PA governments and is considered close to the U.S., is likely to be tapped for that position again in the new cabinet.

According to the sources, Hamas wants individuals closely affiliated closely with the movement to man cabinet posts connected to domestic affairs, including the interior, education, health and Waqf ministries.

Hamas is likely to have 11 or 12 ministers, while Fatah will have to settle for between five and seven ministers.

Representatives of both parties deny that any discussion or agreement on ministry staffing has taken place.