Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Sunday said a plan by President Mahmoud Abbas to hold a referendum on a plan that implicitly recognizes Israel is illegal. "The local law does not permit holding referendums on the Palestinian law," Haniyeh told reporters. However, he said he would try to continue a dialogue with Abbas over the plan.
Haniyeh added he was preparing to go on an Arab tour purposely to rally the Arab political and financial support behind his elected PA government, and to break the US-led western siege imposed on the Palestinian people. The premier affirmed that Arab and Muslim alternatives are already available, adding that his government has secured permanent sources of support.
He urged the EU to rethink its "unjust" stand on the PA government, saying that the international community will not be exempted from politically and financially supporting the Palestinian people to end the Israeli occupation of their lands and overcome the financial crisis.
