Washington - The United States does not expect a change in the position of the Quartet toward Hamas, a senior State Department official said yesterday in light of reports of a Russian intention to raise current policy for debate in the Quartet meeting in Washington tomorrow.

A source in the State Department says there is consensus between the U.S. and the Europeans on policy.

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The Americans say events of the past week in Gaza have only proved to the Palestinians that the Hamas government cannot provide them with the security they need. "Hamas is trying to shake off responsibility and give it to the international community," a source in the State Department said, "but it's their responsibility."

The American noted that in Gaza, where Hamas' control is ostensibly stronger [than in the West Bank], Hamas is unable "to deliver the Palestinians what they expect."

Officials in Washington have said in recent weeks that the instability in the Palestinian Authority might cause a decline in the Palestinians' faith in and support of Hamas.

With regard to Hamas declarations of Iranian support, an administration official said, "I believe that Iranian money is funding Hamas, but less than what they say." The official said the international community's policy of isolating Hamas will not change, and that its funding is running out.

But the Americans also say the amount of money channeled to the Palestinians has risen since Hamas came to power. "The difference is that now the money is not coming through the government but from other sources."

The U.S. administration recently allocated an additional $80 million to strengthen the security forces under control of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. "I'm not surprised Hamas sees our aid to these forces as a threat," the official said yesterday.