 In a growing struggle for power in the Palestinian territories, Hamas said yesterday that it would boycott a referendum called by the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, over recognition of Israel and a two-state solution.
| First they were going to block it, now they're going to boycott it. Ya think they know they have a losing hand? |
Hamas described the referendum as a coup against its government and said it would boycott it, raising the prospect of a violent confrontation.| Prospect? It could get worse? Better send out for more popcorn. |
| Hamas busy beating those plowshares right back into swords, I see. But technically, the referendum in question is NOT about Paleo recognition of Israel. That's the Big Media and lefty spin. This referendum is on recognition of the PLO and its Fatah political beard as the sole authority over the Nation of Paleostine and all the diaspora, with first pick of all the infidel jizya, international television time, and dachas in Damascus. Meshaal's panties are quite fimly wadded right now, because Hamas has taken every opportunity to miss every opprtunity since the elections, and if political polling can be done in Paleoland, I bet Hamas' numbers are in the dumper. |
Aides to Mr Abbas said the result would dictate the fate of the Hamas administration. They said a less than overwhelming yes vote, particularly combined with a low turnout, would cause the president to call an early election. A large majority in favour of the prisoners' document would result in Mr Abbas demanding that Hamas accept the outcome and modify its policies accordingly. If it does not, the president has the power to dissolve the government and replace it with one from his own Fatah party and call new elections several months from now. But the aides concede that if Mr Abbas loses the vote he will probably have to resign. |