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Hamas rejects call to recognize Israel

In a rare dose of good news, some Palestinian public workers began withdrawing money from their banks, the first time they have been paid in three months because of a Western aid cutoff.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published June 5, 2006

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -The Palestinian standoff intensified Sunday after Hamas rejected an ultimatum from President Mahmoud Abbas to endorse a plan implicitly recognizing Israel, and a pregnant woman was killed during a clash between the rivals' forces in Gaza.

In a rare dose of good news, some Palestinian public workers began withdrawing money from their banks, the first time they have been paid in three months because of a Western aid cutoff. Also, Israel's prime minister talked to Egypt's president about resuming peace talks with the Palestinians.

Abbas will order a referendum on a plan drawn up by top Palestinian prisoners in an Israeli jail calling for a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem alongside Israel, a Fatah official said Sunday. Abbas set a Tuesday deadline for Hamas agreement.

"If Hamas doesn't give a positive answer, Abbas will issue a presidential decree calling for a referendum," Fatah official Azam al-Ahmad said at a news conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah, site of the talks.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh rejected Abbas' deadline for the referendum, calling it illegal.

"The local basic law and the advice which we got from experts in international law say that referendums are not permitted on the Palestinian land," Haniyeh said.

Violence erupted in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis between forces loyal to Fatah and the new Hamas militia, security officials said. A 20-year-old woman, eight months pregnant, was killed when masked gunmen opened fire on a car carrying her and two Hamas militants, they said. One of the militants was critically wounded.

Gunmen from the two sides then battled in Gaza City, security officials said. Three bystanders were killed in a clash between Fatah and Hamas forces.

The Hamas takeover of the Palestinian government has led to a cutoff of funds by Israel, the U.S. and European Union. The bankrupt government was unable to pay its 165,000 workers.

On Sunday, the Palestine Bank in Gaza said it was opening its ATMs, and the 40,000 lowest-paid workers began withdrawing money. The government said it would give them each 1,500 shekels - about $331 - but the rest of the employees would have to wait.

The confrontation over recognition of Israel played out against the background of Israeli plans to set its own border unilaterally if peace negotiations fail. Israel refuses to talk to a Palestinian government headed by a movement that does not accept the Jewish state.

[Last modified June 5, 2006, 05:24:47]