Abbas regards referendum way out of crisis

    RAMALLAH, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday that he considered the referendum on a proposal to set up an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel "the way to overcome the ongoing crisis."

    On May 25, Abbas opened a national dialogue by asking Palestinian factions to accept the so-called prisoners' initiative within ten days or he would put the proposal to a referendum within 40 days.

    Hamas, which remains committed to the destruction of Israel, has so far refused to accept the document which is widely seen as implicit recognition of the Jewish state.

    Palestinian Prime Minister and senior Hamas leader Ismail Haneya said on Sunday that holding referendum in the Palestinian territories is "illegal".

    He said however that "from a political point of view, the referendum needs intensive study."

    Abbas rejected Hamas call to modify the document. "If we made modifications on the document, it will loose its power and energy."

    Abbas made the remarks at a joint news conference with European Union's foreign policy chief Javier Solana after they met at Abbas office in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

    The Hamas-led government has resisted massive pressure to renounce violent resistance, recognize Israel's right to exist and abide by signed peace deals with Israel, resulting in an acute financial crisis.

    The European Union -- the biggest aid donor to the Palestinians-- and the United States both suspended direct aid to the Palestinian National Authority after Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas won January elections, while Israel has also blocked the transfer of revenues.

    Abbas said the EU is examining a number of plans and mechanisms to help the Palestinian people get out of the crisis. Solana said that talks were still underway to set up an international mechanism to deliver direct aid to the Palestinian people.

    "We will not abandon the Palestinian people and we will continue to support them as much as we can," Solana said. The Middle East Quartet comprising the EU, the United Sates, Russia and the United Nations decided to create an aid mechanism that would bypass the Hamas-led government during a meeting in New York on May 9.

    Solana said that he hoped the meeting between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert "will take place very soon and will be a productive meeting."

    "We support Abbas willingness to stay with Olmert and talk to each other, they have lots of work to do to bring a solution that satisfies all," Solana added.

    Olmert said after a summit with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak late Sunday that he intended to meet Abbas and that negotiations with the Palestinians were Israel's priority. Enditem