The government supports a referendum bill which if passed into law, will demand a national referendum before any administration can agree to land concessions on the Golan Heights, in Jerusalem, or any areas under Israeli sovereignty. Ministers Dr. Binyamin Begin and Dan Meridor objected to the bill, filing an objection with the Ministerial Legislative Committee, but their objection was defeated.

The law demands that if the Knesset approves a land concession deal by less than 80 of the 120 Knesset votes, the decision must be decided in a national referendum which must be held within 180 days of the Knesset decision. That is to say a Knesset vote of 80 or more lawmakers will override the need for a referendum.

Meridor and Begin feel the move is premature and will only serve to place additional stumbling blocks in the path of diplomatic talks.

The bill, known as the Continuity Law, enjoys widespread support among coalition members, as well as among some members of Kadima and Labor.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)