PA factions consider Abbas' ultimatum
Some senior Hamas members have accepted the plan, although many others categorically reject it; Hamas represertative: Abbas' proposal will negatively affect continuation of dialogue
The principles were drafted by jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, along with Hamas security prisoners serving with him in the Israeli jail Hadarim.
Stunning the various factions, on Thursday during talks in Ramallah on the crisis situation in the PA, Abbas said that if, within 10 days, the Hamas-led government does not accept the prisoners’ plan for recognizing the '67 borders, he would pose the decision to the people in a national referendum within 40 days.
Senior Hamas members, such as Parliament Chairman Aziz Dawik, Parliament secretary general Dr. Mahmoud Ramahi and government spokesperson Razi Hamad announced that they accept the initiative. But other Hamas spokespeople objected the plan.
Razi Hamad said the PA government had no problem with Abbas’ call to set the prisoners’ document to a national referendum, adding that it was an important initiative and that it constituted a suitable basis for the Palestinian dialogue, despite a few reservations. However, other Hamas officials said they were baffled by Abbas' statements, seeing that the intra-Palestinian dialogue has only just started and that pre-conditions and ultimatums should not be imposed at this point in the negotiations
Hamas official: Proposal will negatively affect dialogue
Hamas' representative at the Palestinian dialogue committee, Ziad Daya, said that his movement rejects the referendum initiative: "We object the notion of holding a referendum over the Palestinian people's rights. Abbas' proposal will negatively affect the continuation of the dialogue."
Daya said that the unexpected initiative is an unacceptable prerequisite. Hamas sources said that the prisoners' draft is one of several documents that will be debated by the Palestinian factions. As expected, opposition elements in the movement referred to the article concerning recognizing international resolutions on the dispute, notably the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel and the assertion that the PLO is the one and only body representing the Palestinians.
Adnan Masfur, one of Hamas' spokesmen in the West Bank, said that "the issue of the PLO and its representation continues to be a subject for debate and disagreement, and will be discussed in the negotiations. Therefore, the clause that states that the PLO is the Palestinians' only official representative needs to be discussed."
Salah Bardawil, spokesman for the Hamas faction in the Legislative Council, said cynically: "Have we come to the conclusion of the national dialogue without reaching any understandings that the Rais (Abbas) decides to put the prisoners' document for a referendum?"
Jihad: We have right to resist occupation
The Islamic Jihad, meanwhile, wholeheartedly rejected the idea of a referendum. One of the organization's top leaders, Sheikh Khaled al-Batash, said his movement was opposed to putting the prisoners' draft for a referendum, because "it would seriously hurt the Palestinian issue." Al-Batash added that the Jihad rejects all clauses concerning talks with Israel in the document, as well as the article that states the Palestinian groups will only be allowed to operate against the Jewish state in parts outside the 1967 borders.
It is our right to respond to the crimes of the occupation in the territories that have been taken over in 1948 as well. In order for us to stop activities in these areas, an international initiative is needed. If this happens – we will not oppose even a complete calm," al-Batash said.
The Jihad leader added that his group opposes the section in the prisoners' document that calls for a Palestinian state within the '67 borders, but stated that he respects the draft and believes it should be looked into with thoroughly.
Hanan Greenberg and Attila Somfalvi contributed to the report
