Proposal to recognize Israel angers Hamas

RAMALLAH, West Bank – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday he will call a referendum on a political plan that would implicitly recognize Israel even though the governing Hamas party firmly opposes such a vote.

Abbas’ office made the announcement after he failed in last-ditch talks to persuade the Islamic militant group to accept the principle of a Palestinian state alongside Israel in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem – land Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war.

The idea implies recognition of Israel and the moderate Abbas has endorsed the plan as a way out of crippling financial sanctions imposed on the Hamas-led government over its refusal to recognize Israel and renounce violence. Abbas had also hoped it would allow him to re-sume peace talks with Israel, frozen since Hamas took over government in March.

“President Abbas will set a date for the referendum after the meeting today of the PLO Executive Committee and parliamentary caucuses,” his office said in a statement.

Hamas, which has said the referendum is not legal, reacted angrily to Abbas’ proposal Monday and said there should be further talks.

“You cannot raise the sword of ultimatum, you cannot raise the issue of a referendum while you are talking about dialogue,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told reporters in Gaza. He said calling a referendum meant circumventing the elected government led by Hamas.

Officials have said the referendum would not be binding.

The confrontation is the latest source of tension in an increasingly violent power struggle between Hamas and Abbas, whose Fatah party is the other main Palestinian faction. Since Hamas was sworn into office in March, Abbas has taken steps to curb its authority.

Abbas, who was elected in a separate election before Hamas won the parliamentary vote in January, has even said the Palestinian constitution gives him the authority to remove a government from power. But he said he does not want to use that power.

The plan under discussion was formulated by Hamas and Fatah prisoners held in Israeli jails. But Hamas’ exiled leaders, who make final decisions on policy, have refused to accept it.

Hamas says that accepting the plan would mean abandoning its principles. It also says a referendum is not necessary because Palestinian voters chose its political program in legislative elections just over four months ago.

Hamas says it wants more time to discuss the proposal and suggested changes in the language. But Abbas rejected Hamas’ demands on Monday.

Many Palestinians are uneasy about the referendum, though polls show the document would be approved easily.

The Palestinians have never held a referendum before.