Posted on 05/28/2006 9:24:57 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
RAMALLAH, West Bank - President Mahmoud Abbas said he hoped talks between Palestinian factions to begin Sunday would resolve critical disagreements and make his plan to call a referendum recognizing Israel's right to exist unnecessary.
The Palestinian government has been internationally isolated and is suffering a crippling economic boycott since the Islamic militant group Hamas won Jan. 25 parliamentary elections. The United States and European Union have demanded Hamas renounce violence and recognize Israel's right to exist if it wants the aid restored. Hamas has refused.
In a bold move intended to force Hamas to moderate its position, Abbas, who was elected separately last year, urged the group to accept a proposal drafted by militants in Israeli prisons that implicitly accepts Israel's right to exist. If no agreement is reached after 10 days of talks among the factions, he will call a referendum on the proposal, he said.
"I believe 10 days is enough for all of us to realize the situation and the problem. We want a way out of this crisis, of this big problem. We have to forget about ourselves, about our factions, about our sons and take care of the national problems and issues," he said Sunday, hours before the talks were scheduled to start.
Only procedural issues were expected to be discussed Sunday. Abbas' deadline for an agreement had been thought to be 10 days from last Thursday, when he issued his ultimatum. But Sunday he said the clock would start running when the meeting began later in the day.
Abbas brushed off questions about his referendum proposal, saying the groups should be working to reach an agreement to prevent further economic hardship.
"I'm not going to focus now on the referendum. First we will focus on the dialogue and then we will look into the second step," he said.
Hamas officials have been unenthusiastic about the proposal.
On Sunday, Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri rejected the deadline, said the referendum plan was not legal and said Hamas would discuss any issue as long as it did not involve recognizing Israel.
"We are surprised at the hastiness of wanting to recognize Israel," he said.
Interior Minister Said Siyam, of Hamas, said the Palestinians just had an election in January and did not need another vote.
"A plan of this sort at this time is premature. The dialogue must take its course," he said.
In this photo released by the Palestinian Authority, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, center, waves to bystanders during a tour at the center of the West Bank town of Ramallah Sunday, May 28, 2006. An internal policy struggle erupted in Hamas over the weekend after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas gave the Islamic group 10 days to moderate its positions, Israel Radio reported. (AP Photo/Omar Rashidi, Palestinian Authority)
I was initially surprised that Hamas hasn't shot Abbas yet. But I suppose Abbas talking peace allows them to continue to play both sides of the fence (the Pallies' version of a useful idiot).
What are the odds that Abbas gets the Wacky HAMAS idiots
to recognize ISRAEL ???? I say NONE !!
"We are surprised at the hastiness of wanting to recognize Israel," he said.
Yeah, they've only had over FIFTY YEARS!
Suuuure... they'll recognize Israel, right into the sea.
Unfortunately, the Israeli appeasers actually believe they'll have peace in their day. The palis will not stop until Israel has peace... as in "rest in peace."
I will give you 3 o 1.
I honetly think those are the odds.
Any takers?
honetly = honestly.
"We are surprised at the hastiness of wanting to recognize Israel," he said."
Could it be the financial deficit of funds withheld from the PA now that Hamas is in power? Follow the $$ here.
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