Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh speaks to supporters of Hamas and Islamic Jihad group during a demonstration to protest a referendum in Gaza city on Saturday. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, stepping up a power struggle with the Hamas-led government, announced on Saturday a July 26 referendum on a statehood proposal that implicitly recognises Israel. - REUTERS
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP):
PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT Mahmoud Abbas, defying the rival Hamas group that controls the Cabinet and Parliament, announced Saturday a July 26 referendum on the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Hamas immediately rejected the referendum, which is expected to have a clear majority.
"We have to rule out the idea of a referendum and this is what I will tell Abu Mazen," Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas said, calling Abbas by his nickname.
Abbas said the vote could be called off at any time before July 26 if the sides reach agreement on the document. Written by prominent Palestinian militants jailed by Israel, the document calls for a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, lands Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war, an implicit recognition of Israel.
Later Saturday, Abbas and Haniyeh met in Gaza along with Interior Minister Said Siyam, also of Hamas. Abbas' spokesman, Nabil Abu Rdeneh, said Abbas made clear to Haniyeh that the referendum would be held as planned, despite the Prime Minister's stiff opposition.
