The Hamas-led Palestinian Government considered any referendum called by the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, from the Fateh party, as a coup on legitimacy. Palestinian Interior Minister, Sa'id Siyam, said in a press considered in Cairo that Hamas rejects the coup on the government that was elected by the vast majority of the Palestinian people. He also said that president Abbas has authorities but he can only practice them within the law and constitution. Siyam, after meeting with the head of the Arab League, Amro Mousa, and the head of Egypt Intelligence, Omar Suleiman, said that so far “there are no serious offers” regarding the release of the captured Israeli soldier in exchange for releasing Palestinian detainees. Meanwhile, government spokesperson, Ghazi Hamad, said that the best solution to end the current crisis is to form a national unity government that includes political figures along with professionals and independent members. Moreover, head of Hamas' bloc at the Legislative Council, Dr. Salah Bardaweel, told the Qatar based Al Jazeera TV, that the coming days will see a meeting between Fateh and Hamas in Cairo with the participation of Syria and the European Union. The parties will discuss a new Egyptian Initiative that enjoys a primary acceptance from Fateh and Hamas. Bardaweel added that the new initiative includes forming a national unity government and the release of the captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit. During an interview with Al Jazeera, Fateh leader and head of the Political Department of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), Farouq Qaddoumi, said that national unity government is the best solution for the current situation in the Palestinian territories.
