On one hand, we have reality. On the other, diplomacy: Rice appeals to Hamas at start of Mideast tour.

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called for the Hamas-led Palestinian government to recognize Israel, saying at the start of a regional tour that innocent Palestinians were being hurt by factional infighting.

Asked at a media conference in the Saudi city of Jeddah Tuesday what to do about violent clashes between the ruling Islamist Hamas movement and its rival Fatah, Rice said “the answer is for the Palestinians to find a government that can be committed to the Quartet principles.”

Good luck with that.