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Last update - 13:34 18/06/2008 MKs back referendum on Golan, East Jerusalem withdrawals By Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Menahem Ben-Sasson, Jerusalem  A special Knesset committee approved in its first reading a bill Wednesday mandating that any government decision to withdraw from parts of sovereign Israeli territory - including the Golan Heights and Jerusalem - be subject to a national referendum, elections, or two-thirds majority approval in the parliament. The committee approved the measure thanks to support from the Labor Party. MK Collette Avital said Labor has consistently backed the referendum proposal since the Rabin era. The bill stipulates that a referendum be held 90 days following Knesset approval of a government decision to withdraw from territory. The day of the referendum would be given the status of a statutory holiday and political advertisements and campaigning would be restricted by election laws. The amount of funds the parties would be eligible for has yet to be determined. Advertisement The Knesset House Committee chairman, MK David Tal, who also head the special panel, said the law will aid Prime Minister Ehud Olmert by preventing him from making concessions which he said were liable to endanger Israel. The law's passage would not hinder the premier in the ongoing negotiations with Syria. Tal was insistent in advancing the law during the current Knesset session due to the possibility of imminent elections. The chairman of the Knesset's Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee, MK Menahem Ben-Sasson, argued for the legislation to be adopted as a Basic Law. Meretz MK Zehava Gal-On said the law changes the rules of the democratic process, transferring responsibility from the legislature to the public at large. "This will harm the Knesset's standing as the sovereign," Gal-On said. "The job of deciding is the job of the Knesset." The Meretz MK also criticized the Labor Party for "zigzagging from its position." Related articles: Bill would require Golan referendum Uzi Benziman / Peace isn't a discount sale On the horns of dilemma Syria: First the Golan Heights, then direct talks Bookmark to del.icio.us   Fragile cease-fire Olmert: Gaza cease-fire is fragile, may be short lived. Unbalanced stance Italy FM: EU stance on Israel in past swayed by intolerance.   1.   That`s it. We`re finished 13:54  |  Northern 18/06/08   2.   Basic Law requires a majority of 61 MKs 14:35  |  A Bethlehemite 18/06/08   3.   Let the people decide 15:21  |  Sam 18/06/08   4.   What we did not understand in 1967 15:26  |  Mark Lincoln 18/06/08   5.   Thats a good Idea: It should be Referendum,+Election+2/3 Knesset 15:27  |  Baruch Gold 18/06/08   6.   gal on wants a dictatorship... 15:42  |  jack 18/06/08   7.   Why is Israel acting like a democracy - it`s NOT 15:43  |  POP 18/06/08   8.   Second attempt 16:35  |  Concerned individual 18/06/08   9.   Do the Palestineans get to vote 17:27  |  Dave Duncan 18/06/08   10.   Poisoned chalice - Israel will regret this 18:05  |  Soothsayer 18/06/08   11.   in America treaties require a 2/3 approval from the Senate 18:31  |  Moshe 18/06/08   12.   #10 - how long did the Golan belong to Syria? 18:38  |  redmike 18/06/08   13.   what about the oposit? 18:44  |  pvdh 18/06/08   14.   You call it "sovereign Israeli territory" 18:45  |  John 18/06/08   15.   To Redmike 18:48  |  John 18/06/08   16.   #15 - John 19:06  |  MichaelF 18/06/08   17.   Remember OSLO 19:08  |  A Shultz 18/06/08   18.   Michael F has no clue about international law 19:16  |  Soothsayer 18/06/08   19.   to Soothsayer, about the liable international law 19:28  |  JP 18/06/08   20.   you have just buried the last hope we might have had 20:07  |  an idiot who hoped 18/06/08   21.   If the Syrians are serious, the referendum will be successful 20:13  |  David G 18/06/08   22.   #9 they already are 20:17  |  David G 18/06/08   23.   What this law does and does not do 21:46  |  Realist 18/06/08

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