The United States has ordered its diplomats and contractors to cut off contacts with Palestinian ministries after a Hamas-led government was sworn in, the State Department said.
A directive, distributed to diplomats and other officials in the region by e-mail, instructed them with immediate effect not to have contacts with Hamas-appointed government ministers or those who work for them, whether they are members of the Islamic militant group or not, officials said.
Hamas is formally committed to the destruction of Israel and is classed by the US government as a terrorist organization. It won a landslide victory in Palestinian parliamentary elections in January.
"We will not have contact with members of Hamas, no matter what title they may have," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.
He said the directive was intended to ensure that US diplomats and officials around the world knew how to deal with Palestinian officials with whom they may come into contact.
The United States hopes to isolate Hamas and pressure it to recognize Israel, renounce violence and abide by peace accords. So far, it has refused though its leaders have said they would continue to observe a ceasefire with Israel.
McCormack said the United States would also examine its contacts with the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian diplomats around the world.
The no-contact policy was more sweeping than many had expected because it applies not just to Hamas members but to independents and technocrats in the new government.
Many programs affected
The cut-off could impact a wide range of US programs, including security coordination with the interior ministry, officials said.
Contacts will still be permitted with President Mahmoud Abbas, his office and non-Hamas members of the Palestinian parliament, officials said.
The policy took effect when Abbas swore in a Hamas government at a ceremony in Gaza. Hamas' 24-member cabinet is dominated by Hamas loyalists, but does include a few independents.
A US official said independents and technocrats were included in the ban because they were invited to join the government by a Hamas prime minister and took office after a vote of confidence by a Hamas-led parliament.
Officials said the no-contact policy applies to all parts of the US government, as well as to organizations that receive US funding for projects and services in the Palestinian territories.
US law bars the government from providing direct assistance to any group that is on the State Department's list of terrorist organizations.
Israel has frozen tax revenue transfers to the Palestinian Authority and has banned contacts with Hamas officials but has yet to spell out its policy on lower-level contacts with technocrats. An Israeli official said the issue would be discussed during a cabinet meeting on Sunday.
