Secret aj man
06-06-2006, 03:17
i truly hope the palistinians(populace)consider this.
while i am kinda on the fence with the whole issue,and i understand there have been atrocities commited by both sides(as happens in war)
i just pray that the average palististian agrees to this,it will send israil a message that their so called opponents are not unreasonable homicidal maniacs(like hamas)
and then the israilis will have to make a gesture as well.
i am usually a cynical person,but in this case,i will err on the side of hope,and that maybe it can lead to an ending of the misery suffered by both sides.
the cycle of violence and hatred has to stop,on both sides of the fence!
can i get a woohoo for peace!
or am i deluding myself and being a wishfull thinker,i hope not.
By MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 17 minutes ago
RAMALLAH, West Bank - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday he will call a referendum on a political plan that would implicitly recognize Israel even though the governing Hamas party firmly opposes such a vote.
ADVERTISEMENT
Abbas' office made the announcement after he failed in last-ditch talks to persuade the Islamic militant group to accept the principle of a Palestinian state alongside Israel in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem — land Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war.
The idea implies recognition of Israel and the moderate Abbas has endorsed the plan as a way out of crippling financial sanctions imposed on the Hamas-led government over its refusal to recognize Israel and renounce violence. Abbas had also hoped it would allow him to resume peace talks with Israel, frozen since Hamas took over government in March.
"President Abbas will set a date for the referendum after the meeting Tuesday of the PLO Executive Committee and parliamentary caucuses," his office said in a statement.
Hamas, which has said the referendum is not legal, reacted angrily to Abbas' threats Monday and said there should be further talks.
"You cannot raise the sword of ultimatum, you cannot raise the issue of a referendum while you are talking about dialogue," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told reporters in Gaza. He said calling a referendum meant circumventing the elected government led by Hamas.
Officials have said the referendum would not be binding.
The confrontation is the latest source of tension in an increasingly violent power struggle between Hamas and Abbas, whose Fatah party is the other main Palestinian faction. Since Hamas was sworn into office in March, Abbas has taken steps to curb its authorities.
Abbas, who was elected in a separate election before Hamas won the parliamentary vote in January, has even said the Palestinian constitution gives him the authority to remove a government from power. But he said he does not want to use that power.
The plan under discussion was formulated by Hamas and Fatah prisoners held in Israeli jails. But Hamas' exiled leaders, who make final decisions on policy, have refused to accept it.
Hamas says that accepting the plan would mean abandoning its principles. It also says a referendum is not necessary because Palestinian voters chose its political program in legislative elections just over four months ago.
Hamas says it wants more time to discuss the proposal and suggested changes in the language. But Abbas rejected Hamas' demands on Monday.
"If anyone wants to amend this document, then we will not reach any results," Abbas told reporters earlier on Monday after meeting with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
Many Palestinians are uneasy about the referendum, though polls show the document would be approved easily.
In Gaza, Mohammed Abu Seido, 30, a coffee shop cashier, said he would vote for the document, but he worried that Hamas would react with violence if it is approved.
"Hamas is already failing," he said.
The Palestinians have never held a referendum before, and officials said the vote would not be binding. But passing the referendum could give Abbas an important boost in his standoff with Hamas.
"It would bolster his legitimacy and give him power to go ahead with negotiations with Israel," said Azam al-Ahmad, a top Fatah official. Al-Ahmad also said Abbas, who wields considerable powers, would consider calling elections for president and parliament if Hamas did not abide by the results of a referendum.
The Palestinian infighting has turned deadly in recent weeks. Sixteen people have died in clashes between Hamas and Fatah loyalists, including five killed on Sunday. Five Palestinians were wounded in two clashes in the southern city of Khan Younis on Monday, security officials said.
Hamas has stuck to its tough line even after the United States, European Union and Israel cut off cash transfers to the Palestinian government after the militants took over. The crushing international boycott has left the government unable to pay the salaries of tens of thousands of civil servants for three months.
Hamas officials promised over the weekend to begin paying overdue salaries. But on Monday, the government failed to meet its pledge, causing widespread confusion in the Palestinian areas and prompting angry workers to storm one Gaza City bank.
Some banks advanced money to unpaid civil servants to help calm the situation. In some cases, people received money. In others, the promised payments failed to materialize. And tens of thousands of workers remained without paychecks, with the government as far away as ever from ending the boycott.
"These are people who don't have money to buy milk," said policeman Raed Abu Ghoneima, one of the protesters who stormed a Gaza City branch of the Arab Bank. "It has nothing to do with politics; it's about wages."
Also Monday, Israeli aircraft fired missiles at a car in the Jebaliya refugee camp next to Gaza city, the military said, killing two militants and wounding two bystanders, according to Palestinian hospital officials.
Israel said the main target, a militant from the renegade Popular Resistance committees, was involved in firing rockets at Israel. He died of his wounds.
while i am kinda on the fence with the whole issue,and i understand there have been atrocities commited by both sides(as happens in war)
i just pray that the average palististian agrees to this,it will send israil a message that their so called opponents are not unreasonable homicidal maniacs(like hamas)
and then the israilis will have to make a gesture as well.
i am usually a cynical person,but in this case,i will err on the side of hope,and that maybe it can lead to an ending of the misery suffered by both sides.
the cycle of violence and hatred has to stop,on both sides of the fence!
can i get a woohoo for peace!
or am i deluding myself and being a wishfull thinker,i hope not.
By MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 17 minutes ago
RAMALLAH, West Bank - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday he will call a referendum on a political plan that would implicitly recognize Israel even though the governing Hamas party firmly opposes such a vote.
ADVERTISEMENT
Abbas' office made the announcement after he failed in last-ditch talks to persuade the Islamic militant group to accept the principle of a Palestinian state alongside Israel in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem — land Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war.
The idea implies recognition of Israel and the moderate Abbas has endorsed the plan as a way out of crippling financial sanctions imposed on the Hamas-led government over its refusal to recognize Israel and renounce violence. Abbas had also hoped it would allow him to resume peace talks with Israel, frozen since Hamas took over government in March.
"President Abbas will set a date for the referendum after the meeting Tuesday of the PLO Executive Committee and parliamentary caucuses," his office said in a statement.
Hamas, which has said the referendum is not legal, reacted angrily to Abbas' threats Monday and said there should be further talks.
"You cannot raise the sword of ultimatum, you cannot raise the issue of a referendum while you are talking about dialogue," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told reporters in Gaza. He said calling a referendum meant circumventing the elected government led by Hamas.
Officials have said the referendum would not be binding.
The confrontation is the latest source of tension in an increasingly violent power struggle between Hamas and Abbas, whose Fatah party is the other main Palestinian faction. Since Hamas was sworn into office in March, Abbas has taken steps to curb its authorities.
Abbas, who was elected in a separate election before Hamas won the parliamentary vote in January, has even said the Palestinian constitution gives him the authority to remove a government from power. But he said he does not want to use that power.
The plan under discussion was formulated by Hamas and Fatah prisoners held in Israeli jails. But Hamas' exiled leaders, who make final decisions on policy, have refused to accept it.
Hamas says that accepting the plan would mean abandoning its principles. It also says a referendum is not necessary because Palestinian voters chose its political program in legislative elections just over four months ago.
Hamas says it wants more time to discuss the proposal and suggested changes in the language. But Abbas rejected Hamas' demands on Monday.
"If anyone wants to amend this document, then we will not reach any results," Abbas told reporters earlier on Monday after meeting with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
Many Palestinians are uneasy about the referendum, though polls show the document would be approved easily.
In Gaza, Mohammed Abu Seido, 30, a coffee shop cashier, said he would vote for the document, but he worried that Hamas would react with violence if it is approved.
"Hamas is already failing," he said.
The Palestinians have never held a referendum before, and officials said the vote would not be binding. But passing the referendum could give Abbas an important boost in his standoff with Hamas.
"It would bolster his legitimacy and give him power to go ahead with negotiations with Israel," said Azam al-Ahmad, a top Fatah official. Al-Ahmad also said Abbas, who wields considerable powers, would consider calling elections for president and parliament if Hamas did not abide by the results of a referendum.
The Palestinian infighting has turned deadly in recent weeks. Sixteen people have died in clashes between Hamas and Fatah loyalists, including five killed on Sunday. Five Palestinians were wounded in two clashes in the southern city of Khan Younis on Monday, security officials said.
Hamas has stuck to its tough line even after the United States, European Union and Israel cut off cash transfers to the Palestinian government after the militants took over. The crushing international boycott has left the government unable to pay the salaries of tens of thousands of civil servants for three months.
Hamas officials promised over the weekend to begin paying overdue salaries. But on Monday, the government failed to meet its pledge, causing widespread confusion in the Palestinian areas and prompting angry workers to storm one Gaza City bank.
Some banks advanced money to unpaid civil servants to help calm the situation. In some cases, people received money. In others, the promised payments failed to materialize. And tens of thousands of workers remained without paychecks, with the government as far away as ever from ending the boycott.
"These are people who don't have money to buy milk," said policeman Raed Abu Ghoneima, one of the protesters who stormed a Gaza City branch of the Arab Bank. "It has nothing to do with politics; it's about wages."
Also Monday, Israeli aircraft fired missiles at a car in the Jebaliya refugee camp next to Gaza city, the military said, killing two militants and wounding two bystanders, according to Palestinian hospital officials.
Israel said the main target, a militant from the renegade Popular Resistance committees, was involved in firing rockets at Israel. He died of his wounds.