The unity deal was aimed to end months of factional violence and a year-long international aid freeze that has further crippled the Palestinian economy. Hamas has made a vague pledge to respect previous peace accords with Israel, but the Bush administration is already indicating that won’t be enough. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz is reporting U.S. officials have told Palestinians the U.S. will continue to boycott their new government. In an interview with The Washington Post, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the U.S. would not waver from demands that Palestinians renounce violence and recognize Israel’s right to exist. Palestinians have argued the conditions are unfair because Israel refuses to renounce violence against them nor recognize their right to a state in all of the West Bank and Gaza.