Source: BBC
The Israeli cabinet has approved a bill requiring any peace deal with the Palestinians to be put to a referendum.
A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that it was “important that on such historic decisions every citizen should vote directly”.
The cabinet has also been discussing a controversial proposal by the PM to free a number of Palestinian prisoners.
The release forms part of US-backed efforts to resume the peace process.
‘Tough decisions’
The Israeli government will seek “urgent and important” approval for the referendum bill, asking parliament to fast-track its passage.
“Any agreement which may be reached in negotiations will be put to a referendum,” Mr Netanyahu’s office said.
The bill is seen as a conciliatory gesture to right-wing members of the government who are wary of concessions Israel might have to make during peace process negotiations.
Smart strategy on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s part, whatever concessions he makes will not be final, but, what others make could be used as a precedent for continued negotiation, for decades to come.
Another way of looking at it is that the Palestinians should not ask for, what the majority of Israel will not approve.
The ‘two state solution’ is made so difficult that the only thing left is a ‘one state solution’. Of course it cannot be an Apartheid state.