Hamas leader rejects need for referendum on Israel

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, May 29 (Reuters) Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar today rejected as unnecessary President Mahmoud Abbas's call for a referendum that could pressure Hamas to change its policy toward Israel.

''We are saying there is no need (for a referendum),'' Zahar, who is also a senior Hamas leader, told Reuters on a visit to Malaysia, delivering the Islamic militant group's clearest rejection yet of the proposed referendum.

''This process needs money, we have no money. Nobody will recognise Israel, there is no need for a referendum,'' he said.

Zahar's comments underlined the gap between Hamas and Abbas, whose Fatah faction lost to Hamas in a January parliamentary election.

Abbas gave Hamas an ultimatum last week to accept a proposal agreeing to a peace settlement if Israel withdraws from all of the West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem, occupied since the 1967 Middle East war.

The Hamas charter calls for the destruction of Israel.

''He is believing in political methods which, from our point of view, will be unable to be implemented. It's unrealistic,'' Zahar said of Abbas. ''We are not afraid of referendum but it's a waste of time and money.'' REUTERS SHB PM1748