Abbas Stuns Hamas With Talk of Referendum
The Palestinian president has given Hamas 10 days to accept the idea of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, and will submit the plan to referendum if the Islamic militants refuse. The plan implies a recognition of Israel, but does not renounce violence or accept past peace accords--the two other conditions the Palestinian government needs to meet to do business with the West.The Palestinian president has given Hamas 10 days to accept the idea of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, and will submit the plan to referendum if the Islamic militants refuse. The plan implies a recognition of Israel, but does not renounce violence or accept past peace accords–the two other conditions the Palestinian government needs to meet to do business with the West.
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In a bold initiative, the Palestinian president gave Hamas 10 days to accept the idea of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, saying Thursday he’ll submit the plan to a referendum by mid-July if the Islamic militants refuse.
Mahmoud Abbas’ surprise announcement is a political gamble that could either help resolve the Palestinians’ internal deadlock or lead the Hamas-led government and Fatah into a deeper crisis.
Abbas asked Hamas to endorse a document drawn up by senior Palestinian militants imprisoned in Israel. It accepts statehood in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem ? territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East War.
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The Organization of the Islamic Conference also rejects President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel—and the U.S. as a mediator in the peace process.
After more than two decades, Palestinians are increasingly questioning their leaders’ policy of reaching statehood through negotiations with Israel.
In response to the Palestinian refugee crisis, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said he was willing to cede some of his country's land, but Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas rejected the offer; some Ukrainian soldiers are alarmingly wearing Nazi symbols on their helmets; meanwhile, Turkey refuses to join the coalition against Islamic State. These discoveries and more after the jump.
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