Hamas has rejected a deadline set by Mahmoud Abbas for talks on a plan calling for a Palestinian state alongside Israel and put its militia back on the streets. Talks on the plan, drafted by Palestinian leaders jailed in Israel, had been expected to begin on Saturday, but a Hamas spokesman said the leaders were still discussing a venue. Sami Abu-Zuhri said the meeting had not begun because "formation of the [negotiating] committee has not been finalised yet"."Some factions want the dialogue to be held in Gaza because their representatives are there," he said. The plan implicitly recognises Israel. Hamas's charter calls for Israel's destruction and the group has rejected calls to alter its position.