However, the administration will maintain contact with the Palestinian Authority's representative in Washington, Afief Safieh, because "he does not report to the foreign ministry," deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli told reporters.

The new Palestinian minister of foreign affairs, Mahmud Zahar, is a Hamas hard-liner.

"We've advised our mission in Jerusalem, as well as other missions around the world that ... there should be no contact between US government officials and P.A. (Palestinian Autority) officials who are under the authority of the prime minister or any other minister in the Hamas-led government. This includes working-level officials in those ministries," said Ereli.