As it appears Israeli and PA (Palestinian Authority) negotiators will once again sit down in an effort to reach agreement, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will most likely expedite a bill that will demand a national referendum on any agreement signed with the PA.

According to Bayit Yehudi party members, the national referendum for such an agreement was included in the coalition agreement and therefore, as the negotiations are about to resume the party is pushing the prime minister to move ahead towards passing the bill into law.

Bayit Yehudi officials seem to believe that Israel’s agreeing to additional land concessions to the PA is a fait accompli and rather than fight this likelihood, the party feels that if such agreement is put before the nation, it will not pass.

An agreement involving Israeli land withdrawal would have to be brought to a referendum of the nation’s Jewish citizens and would require a majority of 60% for approval.

Bennett is signaling on Monday, 15 Menachem Av 5773, that his party will not support the state budget unless the national referendum bill is pushed forward by the prime minister.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)