WASHINGTON, MARCH 28, SPA -- THE UNITED STATES ON MONDAY REJECTED AN OFFER BY THE PALESTINIANS' NEW LEADERSHIP OF A DIALOGUE WITH THE WEST, SAYING THAT THE HAMAS POLITICAL PARTY FIRST HAD TO MEET CONDITIONS EXPRESSED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SEAN MCCORMACK REACTED COOLLY TO THE OVERTURE BY HAMAS LEADER ISMAIL HANIYA FOR TALKS ON THE PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI CONFLICT. 'IN TERMS OF DIALOGUE, HAMAS NEEDS TO MEET THE CONDITIONS LAID OUT BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY,' MCCORMACK TOLD REPORTERS. 'THE ONUS IS NOW ON HAMAS.' THE QUARTET OF DIPLOMATIC POWERS SEEKING MIDDLE EAST PEACE-THE UNITED STATES, THE EUROPEAN UNION, RUSSIA, AND THE UNITED NATIONS-HAS DEMANDED THAT HAMAS RECOGNIZE ISRAEL, RENOUNCE VIOLENCE, AND RESPECT PAST TREATIES WITH ISRAEL. --SPA 13 05 LOCAL TIME 10 05 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/349090