Ministerial panel decides: Territorial concessions only by referendum

[azurnoir]

The Knesset's Ministerial Committee on Legislation ruled on Monday that the cabinet would support a bill outlining the referendum that would be held prior to any territorial concessions.

The bill outlines how the referendum would be carried out and how the votes will be tallied, and does not address the actual requirement of holding a referendum. The legislation requiring a referendum has already been passed, but couldn't have been implemented without the procedural legislation.

Despite having advanced the referendum law one step further, the committee decided that a special majority of 80 Knesset members could potentially override the referendum requirement, and approve a territorial withdrawal without referendum.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said in response that this development puts into question the government's desire, and ability to lead the peace process. "Israel's government, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at its helm, vowed to advance the peace process and therefore must do everything within its power to remove the obstacle placed today on the path to peace with this needless bill," he said.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/ministerial-panel-decides-territorial-concessions-only-by-referendum-1.318417

[oberliner]

1. People power?

Do you support this?

[damntexdem]

2. The people of a state should have no power over land stolen from others.

The land is NOT Israel's to decide by referendum.

[oberliner]

3. What state do you live in?

I assume it's one of the United ones.

[azurnoir]

4. IMO this is yet another layer of demands and newly passed laws

aimed at preventing a Palestinian state from ever being formed or at the very least a viable one. How much of "Judea and Samaria" do you believe the Israeli public will give up?

eta Why shouldn't the Palestinians should be able to vote on what land they get?

[oberliner]

5. The referendum will pass

And that will help make it easier to remove the settlers.

Palestinians can hold a referendum as well as to whether or not they agree to the terms of the agreement.

[azurnoir]

7. you believe that the people of Israel will vote in favor

of removing the settlements? Even in such an IMO unlikely event that does not mean the settlers will go peacefully IMO they will extract a "pricetag" no matter how a Palestinian state is formed

[oberliner]

8. Recent poll shows a majority of Israelis support the Clinton parameters

A majority of Israelis (52%) support the overall package, versus 37% who oppose it.

[azurnoir]

9. How recent were these polls? since the begining of the current round of talks?

also do the Palestinians not have any say here or does only Israeli opinion count

[oberliner]

10. June, I think

I will double-check.

And as I mentioned, the Palestinians should also hold a referendum if they so choose.

[azurnoir]

11. In June the peace talks were only an amorphus what if not reality

as they are now as to a Palestinian referendum that's nice but as Israel is the occupying force it is that referendum that would be the deciding factor unless you are claiming that Israel would abide by a Palestinian referendum, as things stand now the Palestinians have no choice but to live with any Israeli referendum

[oberliner]

12. I see no reason why those numbers would be different today

With respect to the referendum, the Palestinians do have a choice. They can either support whatever peace agreement the PA reaches or not. Presumably, the PA is empowered by the Palestinian people to reach an agreement with Israel that is acceptable to the Palestinian side.

[azurnoir]

13. What if the PA does not agree with what the people of Israel decide

they should get? As to whether or not the a poll would be different today that remains to be seen

eta spelling error

[Tripmann]

6. So now you get to vote whether or not you keep the shit you've stolen?

More roadblocking while the rest of the west bank is snatched.

[Violet_Crumble]

15. It's meant to be an obstacle to returning any more territory that's occupied...

I'm not sure about in Israel, but here at least referendums usually don't pass because of the way they're set up and what sort of majority has to vote yes for them to pass...

[whosinpower]

14. The referendum is empty

snip - Despite having advanced the referendum law one step further, the committee decided that a special majority of 80 Knesset members could potentially override the referendum requirement, and approve a territorial withdrawal without referendum.

So - the knesset can still decide if it has 80 votes to override the chance for voters to give their voice. Therefore - if Israel wishes to divest itself of an Arab community - even those Israeli citizens residing in that community may NOT have a say in the matter if 80 knesset members want them gone.

The same could be said of the Israeli settlers residing in the west bank...however, the Israeli government supported thier bid to colonize there - gave them special incentives to do so....so it would indeed boggle the mind if they withdrew their support of the settlements.