Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to rush through a law that would let the voters of Israel have the final say on any peace deal with the Palestinians.
He wants any peace deal to go first to referendum before it can take effect, The Times of Israel reported. Spokesmen for the prime minister say the proposal is aimed at moving along talks, which have been largely stalled since 2010.
“I don’t think these decisions can be made, if there is a deal, by one government or another, but need to be brought as a national decision,” said Mr. Netanyuhu, during a Sunday address to his Cabinet, The Times of Israel reported.
“It won’t be easy,” he said. “But we’re going into the negotiations with integrity and honesty.”
Israel already has a law that requires a referendum before ceding East Jerusalem or the Golan Heights. Mr. Netanyahu wants to expand that law to send to referendum any proposal to hand back any land at all to Palestinians as part of a peace deal.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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