Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has warned he could resign from office if he felt too many constraints under a Hamas government.
"We could reach a point where I cannot perform my duty," Mr Abbas said in an interview with British TV channel ITV.
Hamas capitalised on dissatisfaction with Mr Abbas's Fatah faction to win parliamentary elections in January.
He wants the militant group to renounce violence and recognise Israel's right to exist before taking power.
Peace building
In remarks to be broadcast on Sunday, Mr Abbas said if he was no longer able to pursue his peacemaking agenda he would quit.
"I will not continue sitting in this place, against and in spite of my convictions," he is quoted as saying. "If I can do something I will continue, otherwise I won't."
Mr Abbas was elected president of the Palestinian Authority for a four-year term in January 2005.
Hamas expects to complete forming a new government under Prime Minister-designate Ismail Haniya within two weeks.
In an interview with the Washington Post, Mr Haniya said Hamas was ready to "recognise Israel" if it Palestinians were given a state.
"If Israel declares that it will give the Palestinian people a state and give them back all their rights, then we are ready to recognise them," he told the Washington Post.
Hamas has carried out nearly 60 suicide bombings in Israel since the start of the second intifada in 2001.
It is currently maintaining a ceasefire, but remains committed to the armed struggle and the destruction of Israel.
(BBC)
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