Israel now required by law to hold referendum before returning East Jerusalem and Golan
Jerusalem (AsiaNews) – Any territorial compromise by Israel to other states will require popular approval in a referendum. Although neither Jerusalem nor the Golan Heights are mentioned, the Israeli parliament (Knesset) adopted by 65 to 33 a bill that will determine the future of these areas. Occupied in the 1967 War, their return are an essential condition for any peace accord with the Palestinians and the Syrians.
Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu praised the decision. “"Any peace agreement needs a wide national consensus," which is what the law calls for, he said.
Against the opposition, which is opposed to the idea of submitting government decisions to a popular vote since the former has all the necessary information to ponder mutual concessions, the prime minister said, “The Israeli public is engaged, knowledgeable and responsible and I have faith that on decision day, it will support a peace agreement that adheres to Israel's national interests and security needs”.
For Tzipi Livni, head of the centrist opposition Kadima party, any decision of the kind the bill discussed "would be tied to considerations that are not always made public, and then the public is expected to understand everything.”
Haim Oron, head of the left-wing opposition Meretz party, was even more critical, describing the initiative as a ‘trick’ to halt the peace process with the Palestinians and the Syrians.
Today, Labour MK Eitan Cabel said the law prevents the Knesset from making decisions.
"With the passage of this bill, the Israeli leadership, yet again, is making a mockery of international law," said Saeb Erekat, main Palestinian negotiator. "Ending the occupation of our land is not and cannot be dependent on any sort of referendum."
US State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley refused to comment the law, saying it was an “an internal Israeli issue”.
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