A majority of 66 Knesset members is against a referendum on the disengagement, therefore there is no chance of holding one, Prime Minister's Bureau sources said Saturday.
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According to the bureau's check, the MKs objecting to a referendum are Labor (21 MKs), Shinui (15), Shas (11), Yahad (6) UTJ (5) and the Arab parties (8), totaling 66. Thus there is no chance of getting a Knesset majority to enact a basic law for referendums, which requires a 61-MK majority.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who is against a referendum, believes cabinet and Knesset decisions on the disengagement are sufficient.
Next week the Likud team for holding a referendum is due to present its recommendations to coalition chairman Gideon Sa'ar.
The team consists of chairman MK Michael Eitan and MKs Roni Bar-On and Gilad Erdan. Eitan told Haaretz that the team is to meet academic figures this week, then write the final version of the referendum bill.
Eitan said one of the proposals the team is considering is to hold the referendum in May or June 2005, after the cabinet approves the evacuation of the settlements, enabling enough time for the central elections committee and parties to prepare for the referendum. However, Sharon's men reject this idea as well.
Last week the team met representatives of the parties. They found that most of the factions, with the exception of the National Union and NRP, object strongly to the referendum.
Labor faction chairwoman MK Dalia Itzik refused even to meet the team to discuss it.
The draft bill says every cabinet decision to give up territory of Eretz Yisrael held by the state or to which the state's jurisdiction applies, would require the approval of at least 61 MKs. The Knesset may decide, with a majority of 61 MKs, to transfer the decision to the public via a referendum among all those who are eligible to vote in the Knesset elections
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