Abbas to go ahead with poll on two-state deal with Israel

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian President, was expected to call a referendum of Palestinians after the collapse of 11th hour talks aimed at securing Hamas's agreement to a plan aspiring to a two-state deal with Israel.

Shortly before the midnight deadline set for Hamas to agree to a document authorising him to negotiate a Palestinian state along the pre-occupation 1967 borders with Israel, Mr Abbas's office declared that he would set a date for a referendum after a meeting of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation today.

Mr Abbas said earlier he was not prepared to make changes to the document agreed by a group of prisoners from Hamas and the rival Fatah faction, declaring: "If anyone wants to amend this document, then we will not reach any results."

I've long argued that Abbas is actually doing Hamas a favour by holding this referendum. If the Palestinians vote for the recognition of Israel then Hamas will be let off of an ideological hook of their own making.

They will be free to recognise Israel as "the will of the people" rather than as a step down from their own previously held convictions.

At that point the problem becomes one for the Israelis. Hamas' intransigent position has always rather suited them, for it has allowed them to proceed unilaterally - always their preferred position - whilst claiming that there is no-one to negotiate with.

Hamas have already announced a ceasefire and a willingness to work as a political rather than as an insurgent force. The recognition of Israel is the only legitimate reason the Israeli's have to refuse any further negotiation.

If that particular nail is pulled out of the coffin, the Irsaelis will either have to negotiate or find a new nail.

Sadly, my money is on a new nail.

Should this come to pass, the US will really have to decide whether it wants to choose peace or it's more traditional loyalties.

I would hope they choose the former and force Olmert to abandon his unilteral moves towards a final status solution. However, history makes me sceptical that this is the path they would choose.

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Tags: Israel, Palestine, Hamas, Abbas, referendum, recognise, unilateral,