RAMALLAH, November 22 (JMCC) -
Israel's parliament is set to pass a bill that would require a referendum to be held before the Jewish state would relinquish land it has annexed - namely, eastern
Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.
Alternatively, a majority of 80
Knesset members would have to agree on any such peace deal.
Critics say that the bill would tie the government's hands in peace talks with Palestinians.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak opposed the bill and called it “a concrete block on the head of efforts to advance the diplomatic process.” He complained about the legislation in a meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at the Knesset in October.
“The bill raises questions about the government’s desire and ability to lead the peace process,” Barak said, in a statement released by the Defense Ministry.
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin has also outspokenly opposed the bill and in his speech opening the Knesset’s winter session, said that the government could not use a referendum to bypass the Knesset. The real referendum that should be used to gauge public opinion was Knesset elections, he said.
Read the story at the
Jerusalem Post...