Referrendum Watch?

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday he will call a national referendum on accepting a Palestinian state alongside Israel if Hamas does not agree to the idea within 10 days.

Abbas' surprise announcement was a political gamble that could either help resolve the Palestinians' internal deadlock or lead them into a deeper crisis with the militant Hamas group.

Such a vote would effectively ask Palestinians to give implicit recognition to Israel by accepting a Palestinian state on land occupied by Israel in 1967. Approval of the 18-point plan would provide a way out of the impasse over acceptance of Israel, which has led to an international freeze on aid to the Hamas-led government.

Considering that Hamas doesn't accept Israel's right to exist, there's no reason to believe that Hamas would abide by any referrendum on the matter. The terrorist group will continue to agitate towards Israel's destruction.

This move by Abbas is a gamble to try and grab power from Hamas while there's still a possibility that Fatah can maintain control. It's already questionable as to whether Fatah can control things in Gaza - what with Fatah members bailing for Hamas.

The civil war watch continues as another gunfight broke out:

In Gaza, meanwhile, violence erupted again between Fatah and Hamas forces. A police officer was killed in the shootout in Gaza City, and the two sides blamed each other for starting it.

Charles at LGF puts the referrendum plan succinctly: Convicted Killers Draft Peace Plan.

Considering that Hamas decimated Fatah at the polls, there's no reason to believe that Fatah could garner enough support for its position on a referrendum. Israel appears increasingly likely to unilaterally set its borders because it does not have a negotiating partner - one that will negotiate in good faith and abide by said agreements. Fatah was a partner, but certainly not one that bargained in good faith. Hamas wont even come to the bargaining table at all.

UPDATE:
Did you know that Abbas has been getting death threats from Hamas? And Israel was going to transfer weapons to Fatah as a result?

Israel will allow weapons to be transferred to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ personal guards in the wake of recent threats on his life, a Defense Ministry spokeswoman said on Thursday.

Western diplomats had told Reuters earlier this month that European donors had pledged funds to boost Abbas’ security forces, while his aides said Egypt and Jordan had pledged arms and ammunition to help his presidential guard protect him.

There's no way to take sides in this.

UPDATE:
Laurence Simon notes that Abbas has learned an important lesson about democracy - that referrendums can be used as a threat, but the real trick to the referrendum is that it provides cover for Hamas to continue acting like Hamas - a terrorist group that is completely unrepentant about killing Israelis (or anyone else who stands in their way).

Also noting the referrendum news: LGF, Outside the Beltway, and Econopundit.