GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - The ruling Hamas group will not join the planned coalition government with the rival Fatah party if recognizing Israel is a condition, a close aide to Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas said Friday.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of the Islamic group Hamas pauses as he attends an opening ceremony of a hospital in the town of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza Strip Wednesday Sept. 20, 2006. [AP]

At the United Nations on Thursday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah said the coalition government would recognize Israel.

But Haniyeh's political adviser, Ahmed Yousef, told The Associated Press that "there won't be a national unity government if Hamas is asked to recognize Israel."