Ramallah, West Bank ? Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stepped back from a political showdown with his Hamas rivals, giving the Islamic militants several days to recognize Israel or face the voters in a referendum on the idea.

Abbas, a moderate, has been pushing the Hamas-led government to accept a proposal that calls for a Palestinian state alongside Israel, implicitly recognizing the Jewish state. Abbas believes the plan will help lift the economic pressure on the Palestinians and allow him to pursue peace talks with Israel.

Hamas, which is sworn to Israel’s destruction, has balked at the plan, demanding changes in the language, calling for more time to discuss it and saying it won’t give in to deadlines.

“We are giving enough time, about three days, for our brothers in Hamas to reconsider their position,” said Yasser Abed Rabbo, a top official of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which Abbas also heads.

Hamas officials welcomed the offer to extend the dialogue but repeated their opposition to deadlines on the referendum.