The Referendum Game--Gambling With The Palestinian Future.

The article focuses on the stand taken by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on the Palestinian National Accord Document drawn up by members of five separate Palestinian factions imprisoned in Israel. President Abbas launched a national dialogue in Ramallah on May 11, 2006 to work out the differences between his party and other Palestinian factions. He unilaterally decided on a deadline for an agreement of settlement with Israel and pledged to call a referendum if no settlement was reached within ten days. The accord document demanded an unity government.