Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Saturday that a new emergency Palestinian government, due to be sworn in Sunday, would be a partner for peace in negotiations with Israel.

In the wake of the takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday dissolved Fatah-Hamas unity government sworn in three months ago.

"A government that is not a Hamas government is a partner [for peace]," Olmert told reporters.

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The prime minister spoke as he was leaving for the United States on a three-day visit, during which he is due to meet U.S. President George W. Bush.

"We have a new opportunity in the last few days that we haven't had in a long time," Olmert told reporters.

Public Security Minister Avi Dichter said Saturday that Israel, fearing a looming humanitarian disaster, will allow food and other basic supplies into the Gaza Strip.

"Our consideration is the humanitarian issue. Allowing merchandise through Karni [cargo crossing between Israel and Gaza] in order to prevent hunger in Gaza is what will guide Israel to allow merchandise," Dichter told Channel 2 TV.

Dichter said Hamas' conquest in Gaza signaled the collapse of the Palestinian Authority, the government entity established under past peace accords. But he also said the new reality has turned the West Bank into an arena of opportunity for Israel.

He said a Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip should be treated as a terror entity and cut off its weapons supply. He said that could require Israel to deploy along Gaza's border with Egypt to halt weapons smuggling.

Hamas' victory in the Palestinian parliamentary elections last year led to a suspension of Western aid to the PA. The formation of the unity government failed to lift the embargo, as the Palestinians had hoped.

But U.S. Consul-General Jacob Walles said Saturday that Washington plans to lift the ban on direct aid to the new emergency government.

"I think... there won't be any obstacles, economically and politically, in terms of reengaging with this government. Yes, they will have full support," Walles said.

"I expect that we are going to be engaged with this government," he added. "I expect that early next week. There will be some announcements in Washington, specifically about our assistance and about the financial regulations."