Hamas says no to vote on Israel

June 05, 2006

Laura King

LOS ANGELES TIMES

JERUSALEM — Hamas said yesterday that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas lacks the legal authority to call a referendum on recognizing Israel.

The statement by Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh appeared to set Hamas on a collision course with the moderate Abbas.

Abbas has given Hamas a deadline of Tuesday either to agree on a common political platform, including recognition of the Jewish state, or to put the question to the Palestinian electorate.

Haniyeh, speaking in Gaza, said: "Referendums are not permitted in the Palestinian lands."

To make his point, he cited Palestinian law and international law.

Hamas’ refusal to recognize Israel and renounce violence have resulted in a dramatic drop in international aid, which, in turn, has left the Palestinian government unable to pay salaries for three months. Some of the lowestpaid government employees, however, were allowed yesterday to draw part of their earnings from a bank in Gaza, and more were expected to receive a partial payment today at other banks.

About 40,000 workers — less than one-third of the total number of civil servants and security forces — would be eligible to receive a month’s payment, government officials announced.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak yesterday that he would meet with Abbas, though he did not give a date. Egypt, like the Bush administration, has urged Olmert to bolster Abbas as he faces contentious dealings with Hamas. Olmert’s meeting with Mubarak, held in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik, was his first with an Arab leader since becoming prime minister.