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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Hamas says it won't be forced to accept Abbas plan |
| 2006-05-26 |
| DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Hamas will not be "blackmailed" into accepting President Mahmoud Abbas's proposal for Palestinian statehood that implicitly recognises Israel, a member of the movement's exiled leadership said on Friday. Mohammad Nazzal did not reject the proposal outright, but he criticised Abbas for threatening to put it to a referendum if it was not agreed by Palestinian factions within 10 days. "We see this referendum as a tool of pressure on Hamas," Nazzal told Reuters in Damascus. On Thursday, Abbas gave leaders of Hamas and his own Fatah movement 10 days to accept a proposal agreeing to a peace settlement if Israel withdraws from all of the West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem, occupied since the 1967 Middle East War. The proposal was drawn up in an Israeli jail by senior prisoners from factions including Hamas and Fatah. "Although this is a document drawn up by prisoners for whom we have high respect, it cannot be used as a way to blackmail Hamas," Nazzal said. "The initiative contains positive as well as what we see as negative points. The natural course is for these points to be discussed in a dialogue to come up with a common position." Nazzal said his comments reflected the standpoint of all elements of Hamas, including leaders inside the Palestinian territories, the exiled leadership, and the military wing. He also questioned Abbas's constitutional right to call a referendum and said the president's plan raised the question of whether Palestinians outside the territories could vote. "Although no one can be against a referendum because it will shows the will of the people, Mr Abbas did not propose this referendum as a salvation for Hamas, but to impose his own political agenda.," Nazzal said. |
| Posted by:Chinter Flarong9283 |
| #5 too little, too late, too insincere, you lying POS's |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-05-26 22:40 |
| #4 Speaking in the West Bank city of Ramallah at a public forum aimed at reducing tensions between his Fatah party and Hamas, Mr. Abbas challenged the Islamic militants to reach an understanding within 10 days on negotiations with Israel or face a plebiscite within 40 days. "Are slogans enough to feed the hungry? You need to stop with these slogans and deal with reality," Mr. Abbas said. "You need to stop with dreaming and get what is possible to get now. Let's not talk about dreams. Let's get a Palestinian state within the '67 borders." |
| Posted by: junkirony 2006-05-26 22:04 |
| #3 Who cares what a bunch of prisoners do? They're in jail because they backed the wrong horse in the first place. It's time for Israel to bring the Hammer of Doom out of retirement and totally CRUSH both HAMAS and FATAH, the expel all the rest of the ayrabs in the occupied Gaza and West Bank portions of Israel, according to the Balfour decision. If anybody objects, Israel and the US will shut them up. Settle this damned 60+-year old war once and for all. It won't stop as long as there's any possibility of the arabs getting one square foot of Israeli territory. Women, children, fluffy bunnies and baby ducks should leave now, or take what's coming with due resignation. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2006-05-26 18:17 |
| #2 "Frankly ... I don't give a damn." |
| Posted by: Rhett 2006-05-26 13:30 |
| #1 who. cares. |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2006-05-26 13:25 |