FUNNY HOW THE REALISTS COULDN'T SEE THIS REALITY COMING:

Abbas Urges Hamas To Back 2-State Plan: Palestinian Leader Says He May Call Referendum (Scott Wilson, 5/25/06, Washington Post)

If Hamas does not change its position, Abbas said, he will measure public support for a two-state solution within 40 days through a popular referendum. Although it would not be binding, the result would help clarify for recalcitrant Hamas leaders, the Israeli government and the world what course Palestinians favor to resolve the conflict with Israel.

"We must stop with the slogans and start dealing with reality," said Abbas, Fatah's leader. "We must stop dreaming and accept what we can take now. Let us not speak of dreams. Let us take the Palestinian state on the '67 borders. There is a national consensus for this."

Abbas delivered his ultimatum during a meeting of Fatah and Hamas leaders in the West Bank city of Ramallah that was intended to reduce mounting tensions. His comments reflect frustration over Hamas's refusal to soften its views at a time of deepening economic hardship in the Palestinian territories and sporadic armed conflict between the two movements.

It was democratic ideologues--like Natan Sharansky, George Bush, and Ariel Sharon--who understood that the death knell for Palestinian radicalism would be sounded by consensual politics.

Posted by Orrin Judd at May 26, 2006 9:24 AM