The Palestinian leader Mahmoud ‘Abbas addressed his people on Wednesday in order to clarify the role of his new government and its attitude towards Hamas. He made it clear there would be no talks with Hamas until it dismantled its major military wing, the Executive Force, returns the various Fatah buildings it seized in this month’s fighting in Gaza, and apologizes for what he described as the crimes Hamas had committed. For its part, Hamas is still refusing to recognize the interim government, with its ministers, who were dismissed by ‘Abbas last week, and is meeting as a rebel cabinet in Gaza.