Abbas' referendum implicitly recognizing Israel...

[Jacobtm]

Anyone got any news about this referendub Mahmoud Abbas was going to put up if Hamas didn't agree to recognize Isreal?

This seems like revolutionary stuff, but isn't getting much press.

[they don't love you like i love you]

I think the Hamas Parliament killed it.

[MODU]

I think the Hamas Parliament killed it.

I don't think they had the ability to do so, which is why Abbas went that route.

[Jacobtm]

In the most recent issue of The Economist, it says:

"Last weekend he [Abbas] set July 26th as a date for a referendum on it [the prisoners' document]...

But... there is no garuntee that a referendum will happen. Hamas is planning every legal and political obstruction it can think of. It is unclear where the money to hold a plebiscite would come from. And bits of the PA security forces loyal to Hamas and those loyal to certain Fatah leaders with an interest in sowing disruption are sporadically clashing. A well-timed bout of violence could derail the exercise [the referendum]."

[Middle-aged Europe]

The last thing I've heard was that Abbas might cancel the referendum as part of a compromise between Fatah and Hamas in order to prevent a further escalation of violence between the two groups.

[Michael Z]

I doubt the Palestinians would vote Yes after what happened on that beach. It's a shame because, unless Hamas recognise Israel, any chances of peace between the two sides are virtually non-existent.

[Middle-aged Europe]

I doubt the Palestinians would vote Yes after what happened on that beach. It's a shame because, unless Hamas recognise Israel, any chances of peace between the two sides are virtually non-existent.

I've also read somewhere that an opinion poll actually showed a majority for this proposal among Palestinian voters. The main problem seems to be that Hamas could trigger a civil war in response to this referendum.

[they don't love you like i love you]

I doubt the Palestinians would vote Yes after what happened on that beach. It's a shame because, unless Hamas recognise Israel, any chances of peace between the two sides are virtually non-existent.

Hasn't it been proven now that it wasn't an Israeli shells on the beach but some leftover PLO mines?