A senior Hamas official who serves as education minister in the new Palestinian Authority unity government has been quoted as saying that suicide bombings had ruined past attempts at peace, and that the PA government recognizes Israel and forswears violence even if Hamas does not.

In an interview with Washington Post columnist Robert Novak published on Monday, Hamas Education Minister Naser al-Shaer was quoted as saying that "previous attempts at peace were ruined by suicide bombers. Now, we look forward to a sustained peace."

According to Novak, "Shaer signaled that the regime recognizes Israel's right to exist and forgoes violence - conditions essential for talks about a viable Palestinian state adjoining Israel - even if Hamas does not."

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"We hope that it is going to be a matter of time," Shaer was quoted as saying. "But there is a big chance now."

Shaer was asked to respond to a recent Los Angeles Times article by the new PA Finance Minister Salam Fayyad, who wrote that the Palestine Liberation Organization's 1993 acceptance of Israel and disavowal of violence was "a crystal-clear and binding agreement" that "no Palestinian government has the authority to revoke."

Fayyad also said that the unity government's platform "explicitly" pledges to honor all PLO commitments.

Asked if he agreed with Fayyad's statements Shaer replied that it did not matter. "We are talking about the government, not groups," he said, adding that Hamas was no more relevant to Palestinian policy than the views of far-right cabinet minister Avigdor Lieberman are to Israeli policy.

"I don't think the Israeli government wants a two-state solution." Shaer was further quoted as saying. "Without pressure from the president of the United States, nothing is going to happen."

Also on Tuesday, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert asked Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh not to attend a Washington meeting with Fayyad slated to take place later this week.

Fayyad, who is considered to be one of the more moderate ministers in the PA unity government, was invited to participate in talks with U.S. officials on Tuesday. Fayyad is considered to be an acceptable representative by the U.S. government, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice clarified that the establishment of a unity government will not block further dialogue between them.

Fayyad is currently participating in talks hosted by the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution discussing strategic aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Participants include Rice's aide on Middle East matters, David Walsh, and Deputy Assistant Secretary, Rob Danin; representatives from Canada and the European Union and unofficial Israeli representatives.

In the past, participants have included senior Israeli officials Tzipi Livni and Meir Sheetrit and Palestinian official Mohammed Dahlan.

Deputy Defense Minister Sneh agreed to take part in talks at the institution. However, U.S. sources cite that after news of the invitation reached the Israeli ambassador to Washington, Sallai Meridor, he advised Olmert to prevent Sneh from participating.

As a cabinet member, Sneh is required to receive approval to take part in talks where a Palestinian government official is present.