President calls for vote on establishing state

? Moderate President Mahmoud Abbas, defying the Hamas militants who run the government, said Saturday that Palestinians would vote next month on whether to establish a state alongside Israel, effectively recognizing the Jewish nation.

Hamas rejected the notion of the July 26 referendum, which is expected to win a clear majority despite rising anger at Israel and infighting between the militants and Abbas’ Fatah movement.

Hamas fighters battled Abbas loyalists in Gaza and fired rockets and mortars at Israel, ending a 16-month truce after an explosion blamed on Israeli shelling Friday killed eight and wounded dozens at a seaside family picnic.