GAZA CITY, 5 June 2006 — Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh yesterday effectively rejected a deadline to accept a proposal that implicitly recognizes Israel, saying President Mahmoud Abbas’ plan for a referendum on the matter is illegal.
The statement by the prime minister was the strongest sign yet that Hamas will not give in to Abbas’ ultimatum to accept the plan, which calls for compromise with Israel. Abbas has given Hamas until tomorrow to decide or face a national referendum that he is expected to win.
“The local basic law and the advice which we got from experts in international law say that referendums are not permitted on the Palestinian land,” Haniyeh told reporters. However, he said he would try to continue a dialogue with Abbas over the plan.
Abbas presented the ultimatum late last month as a way out of an increasingly bloody power struggle between the sides. Hamas is deeply divided, and Haniyeh’s statement appeared to be an attempt to buy time. Hamas is wary of being held responsible for the failure of the plan.
With the deadline looming, Hamas and Fatah representatives met in the West Bank earlier yesterday to discuss the proposal, but said they had made no progress and that hopes for agreement were fading.
Hamas, which defeated Fatah in January legislative elections, has demanded the dialogue be moved to its Gaza Strip stronghold, where most of Hamas’ leaders live.
“We are ready to bring the dialogue to Gaza,” Haniyeh said. “We are ready to contribute by all means to make this dialogue succeed.” Fatah officials were expected in Gaza later yesterday to meet Hamas leaders. But officials said Abbas had no plans to go to the area. Israel does not permit Hamas leaders to travel between the West Bank and Gaza.
Since taking office in March, Hamas has come under heavy international pressure to renounce violence and recognize Israel. It refuses, despite cuts in international funding that have left the government unable to pay some 165,000 civil servants for three months. The cuts have caused widespread economic hardship for Palestinians.
Abbas, elected separately last year, has been pushing Hamas to accept a plan calling for a Palestinian state next to Israel. The plan was drawn up by senior Hamas and Fatah prisoners held by Israel. Prisoners hold great weight in Palestinian society.
Abbas believes that if Hamas accepts the so-called prisoners’ agreement, it will open the way for the West to resume vital aid payments to the Palestinians and allow him to restart peace talks with Israel.
— With input from agencies
