Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., July 04, 2008 Tamuz 1, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:47 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 08:31 01/07/2008
New law stipulates: Territorial withdrawal only by referendum
By Shahar Ilan and Eli Ashkenazi, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: Golan, referendum, Israel 

The Knesset approved on Monday the referendum law, which mandates a national referendum or a two thirds Knesset majority prior to a withdrawal from any territory under Israeli territory. The law was approved in its first reading by a majority of 65 MKs to 18.

The vote came as indirect peace talks were underway between Israel and Syria, revolving around the Syrian demand that Israel return the Golan Heights, which it captured from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War, in return for peace. A third round of talks was to begin this week.

Earlier Monday, the "Golan Lobby" convened at the Knesset ahead of the vote. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister Eli Yishai (Shas), who said that the law is a positive and important measure, though his party generally opposes holding referendums.
Advertisement
"I think that talk about [pulling out of the Golan] Heights cause great damage to the residents," Yishai said. "Anything we can do to help is a blessing and is required and therefore we will support the law."

An existing law already mandates a referendum before ceding any territory under Israeli sovereignty, but it also states that this requirement will not apply until a Basic Law detailing the procedures for holding a referendum is passed. The current law eliminated the need to enact a Basic Law. Instead, it requires that territorial concessions be approved by a national referendum or general elections or a majority of 80 Knesset members.

Golan Lobby Chairman MK Yisrael Katz said that it was extremely important that the law was approved, in order to make it clear that attempts to hand over the Golan will be followed by the tedious procedure of a referendum. "There is an important message here, especially while negotiations are underway," Katz said.

Opposition Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu said the "in Western countries, giving up land is impossibly difficult, and in tiny little Israel, governments can relinquish land with unbearable ease. This is something that must be rectified, and the law can do that."

MK Yuval Steinitz (Likud) said that negotiations over the Golan Heights were a crime. "Giving up the Golan would be a national disaster that the Zionist endeavor will not recover from," he said.

Deputy Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein (Likud) said "the Knesset needs to learn from its own history? this law sends a clear message that the decision will be approved by the people, without outside considerations, tricks or political bribes."

MK David Tal (Kadima), the chairman of the special committee that prepared the law, said Sunday that "if the referendum law is approved by less than 65 MKs, I will view it as a personal failure."
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Against his release
Mother of Kuntar victim appeals to President Peres against his release.
Gloom and doom
How many missiles will be fired from Iran, Syria, Lebanon in the next war?
  1.   Now Olmert will need a new scam to divert attention 19:47  |  Simon 30/06/08
  2.   75% of Israelis oppose an Israeli withdrawal ... 19:49  |  jean Van Daem 30/06/08
  3.   Not enough 19:51  |  Frank 30/06/08
  4.   Excellent 19:59  |  Jane 30/06/08
  5.   Only in Israel 20:23  |  Jon 30/06/08
  6.   BREAKING-PEACE-NEWS-BY-ISRAELI-WAR-MONGERS 20:27  |  index_on_censorship 30/06/08
  7.   One GOAL was enogh for SPAIN - ISRAEL needs OCCUPIED GOL-AN 20:31  |  Euro fan 30/06/08
  8.   isnt it worth it? 20:37  |  Antoine 30/06/08
  9.   #8 Antoine 20:51  |  Boycott 30/06/08
  10.   I AM SORRY, BUT 20:54  |  indrajaya 30/06/08
  11.   #9 Boycott 21:01  |  Michael 30/06/08
  12.   We don`t need referendums 21:11  |  ARAB BOYCOTT 30/06/08
  13.   Israel will never reach A THOUSAND YEARS, maybe 80? 21:19  |  Tausendjahrige Reich 30/06/08
  14.   This in Actually Pretty Good 21:20  |  Mark of Lewiston 30/06/08
  15.   Isrealis as a whole can now bare responsibility for the 21:22  |  El Hombre Bueno 30/06/08
  16.   Boycott - you could say the same thing about Israel 21:23  |  Patriot American 30/06/08
  17.   RATS of Jakarta are never sorry for anything they do 21:24  |  Genuine Tosefta 30/06/08
  18.   Michael - Most Israelis live on the coast 21:25  |  Demographer 30/06/08
  19.   OLMERT STINKS 21:25  |  4:20 30/06/08
  20.   Eventually Israel will cede or lose all American support 21:26  |  Natallie Durson 30/06/08
  21.   What are the negotiations about anyway? 21:27  |  Michael N 30/06/08
  22.   # 2. Jean Van Dam...? Iran on Golan..? 21:29  |  Stephen. 30/06/08
  23.   What about a referendum on stealing land? 21:50  |  Joe 30/06/08
  24.   As Usual Benjamin Netanyahu is 100% Correct 21:51  |  Living In Rishon 30/06/08
  25.   Another Glorious victory for peace 22:01  |  D 30/06/08
  26.   #11 its a dangerous precedent 22:04  |  Antoine 30/06/08
  27.   Iran in the Golan= good propaganda 22:12  |  Hadi 30/06/08
  28.   #2 22:24  |  human being 30/06/08
  29.   #10 Indrajera & #20 Durson 22:29  |  leo 30/06/08
  30.   Thank G-d that theres more sane Israelis than 22:37  |  JP 30/06/08
  31.   And Olmert can now Stew in his own Juice..... 22:43  |  Dolly 30/06/08
  32.   ABOUT TIME 22:54  |  Barry S. Roffman 30/06/08
  33.   It is mean that the Jordan is Palestinian State 22:54  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 30/06/08
  34.   bibi three days ago NZ gave huge plots of land to maori 23:09  |  mehmet 30/06/08
  35.   Ceding what...? 23:13  |  Esther 30/06/08
  36.   It means that Alaska is Israel! 23:16  |  Back home 30/06/08
  37.   Jon - if you gamble with money or land you can lose too! 23:23  |  x-ray 30/06/08
  38.   Making laws for illegal appropriation...?! 23:24  |  Esther 30/06/08
  39.   There is no mention of the winning referendum percentage needed 23:35  |  Sam 30/06/08
  40.   New Referendum? 23:36  |  Heatherross 30/06/08
  41.   golan is israel land ,by by 23:47  |  baba lalou 30/06/08
  42.   Another referendum 23:57  |  Fought on the Golan 30/06/08
  43.   Doesn`t change international law 00:03  |  Jeff 01/07/08
  44.   To Antoline # 26 - Sorry you are Wronf..... 00:15  |  Dolly 01/07/08
  45.   Wrong Wording (and thinking) for Law 00:17  |  ZADOK 01/07/08
  46.   Referendum on ceding land 00:35  |  Mark 01/07/08
  47.   Peace and justice was never israels agenda 01:01  |  Daniel 01/07/08
  48.   new law 01:06  |  Moshe 01/07/08
  49.   new law 01:06  |  Moshe 01/07/08
  50.   (Swiss) Dino, why aren`t you here to congruatulate Israel? 01:13  |  Mark B. 01/07/08
  51.   to #20 Nazilie Durson - Israel will never lost USA support 01:17  |  JP 01/07/08
  52.   @14 Mark of Lewiston,don`t you trust too much on the people? 01:17  |  Mark B. 01/07/08
  53.   Good News, But... 01:20  |  Jeff Northridge 01/07/08
  54.   Israel,s behaviour reminds me of Scarface 01:43  |  Labhras 01/07/08
  55.   39 Mark B 01:55  |  Mark of Lewiston 01/07/08
  56.   land robery! 02:08  |  bashar 01/07/08
  57.   Good Idea 02:19  |  Jane 01/07/08
  58.   This government of Kadima is illegal and have no 03:13  |  Akram Zekaria 01/07/08
  59.   Israel no partner for peace 03:34  |  Paul Fingerhut 01/07/08
  60.   A meaningless law 03:35  |  Johnboy 01/07/08
  61.   Land withdrawal for nothing. 03:47  |  Dudka 01/07/08
  62.   refer this 03:59  |  Space 01/07/08
  63.   We must stop Israeli retreat. Period. This is but a first step. 04:00  |  Chaim 01/07/08
  64.   The Israeli Public Will Take Their Country Back 04:10  |  Ron 01/07/08
  65.   To 35 Mark 04:28  |  Ron 01/07/08
  66.   Land theft, now legal in Israel. 04:40  |  POP 01/07/08
  67.   The Golan is illegally occupied territory 04:41  |  betz55 01/07/08
  68.   new law 04:58  |  shruli 01/07/08
  69.   To give back stolen land is "to give up land" ? 05:04  |  Truthteller 01/07/08
  70.   Mexico - U.S.A. 05:47  |  Dudka 01/07/08
  71.   #45 - Boy Johnboy 05:57  |  JES