Knesset pushes Golan Heights referendum law

only losers in the conflict think they can get the land back AFTER they lost the war. Good luck bozo. Want it back? Come and get it.

isreal isolates itself by not obiding by internatinal law the UN golan is not isreal territory and the still land and justify it by calling it security

#11 Mark, I understand, and more importantly, agree, with your note on peace for land. My comment was not relating to the validity of an Israeli pullout from occupied lands without a genuine peace. That is a whole other topic. My comment relates to the idea that this referendum issue was about transferring Jews out of Golan. While this may end up being the practical conclusion to such a referendum if followed through, it still is not about pulling Jews out of one land or Arabs out of another. This issue, as I said, is about first and foremost borders, real internationally recognized borders. Do I feel that Israel should just pullout if they then would end up being attacked from those same territories? NO NO NO. Please realize that what this referendum would be about is this: Israel makes peace with Syria, Syria no longer is a threat to Israel, BUT Israel still can not pullout of the Golan because a referendum may vote it down.

Why not tell the truth: when Israel decideds to withdraw from the Golan and West Bank, they will hand the territories to the arabs Judenrein. Anyone who is a Jew will either be bribed to leave early or be dragged out by soldiers and police. Did the Jews in Gaza get the option of staying behind? This is not a border despute between two countries. If it were Israel would not have imposed a freeze on only one religeion. This is a war between two religions, and when we all have the clarity to see it for what it really is, we will be finally able to deal with the problem.

...were not driven out in 1967.

#3 Natalie, First Israel's treaties with Egypt and Jordan negate your remarks about pursuing peace through negotiations. Clearly this is the proven way to peace with Israel. Second while Gandhi and Martin Luther King proved you can effect change using peaceful protest the Pals have chosen violence and mass murder and have achieved nothing. So you have backwards, Again! #9,Ollie, Unfortunately it's not that simple. Nobody expects nor does Israel have to give back land that is strategically important militarily for Israel's defense back to an enemy that would use it to attack Israel. The idea is ludicrous. Laws have intentions, and Syria would have to commit to a sincere peace in order to get back land. No country is obligated to commit military suicide under any international law.

Exactly Johnboy. I would have thought most people would have understood this fact. I guess #2 David thinks the IDF would have canceled the pullout of Gaza if a referendum came out against it? HA!

Eliyahu, please re-read to article. This is NOT a referendum on transferring Jews out of Golan. This is a referendum on territorial withdrawals by Israel-this is a referendum on withdrawals from territory that Israel does not have any right to under international law. If Jews wish to remain in the Golan, and for that matter, in the West Bank, they may BUT as citizens of Syria or Palestine, respectively. Please remember, the Golan Heights are Internationally recognized as Syrian territory occupied by Israel--OCCUPIED. As well, stop trying to make this a racial issue and pander to the extremes on both sides (unless u r one of the extremes). On an international scale, this is not about Jews or Arabs, this is about territories and borders that the international community as a whole recognizes.

D: "So the Israeli public can now veto any peace negotiations with Syria or the Palestinians by voting against land withdrawals from the Golan or Jerusalem?" Nope. Bibi is trying real hard to convince everyone that this is the case, but it isn't really true. This is not a Basic Law, and so the instant it becomes inconvenient the Israeli PM of the day will simply pass another law that overturns it. At which point the Israeli public's "veto power" disappears in a puff o' smoke.... Because that's all this is: smoke and mirrors, and meant only to impress the impressionable.

Spot on!

This is a referendum on agreeing to transfer Jews out of their homes against their will and give their homes or land to arabs. If such a question is valid, it should also be OK to transfer arabs as well out of their homes. But that would be a violation of human rights. No? The referendum is a sham. It legitimizes racism against Jews, and will be used by the prime minister to justify his anti Jewish agreements. And if the referendum goes agaisnt him, he will do what Sharon did which is find a way to get around any vote he doesn't like. The settlers who think this law will protect them are dreaming. It will only make their deportation easier. Now when the vote goes against them they will have nothing to say. And if the vote is in their favor, they will get deported anyway.

Lets forget about the Referendum Law just for a second, and think about what it means that Israel feels it needs to pass/amend such laws in the first place? While it is a move in the direction of national democracy (ie. referendum), it is also very telling on what the "feel" of the nation is with regard to Israel's continued hold on "territories" outside Israel Proper. One only needs to pass laws/safeguards/etc., when one knows what will ultimately occur, indeed, what must ultimately occur, coupled with the realized, yet inability to admit, that ultimately the conclusion will remain unchanged, while possibly lengthening the time frame in which such a change will occur. i.e. the ultimate pull-out of all territories (G. Heights, West Bank, East Jer.,).

It is incomprehensible how our governments continue to be divided instead of resovled on the territory issues. If the Golan was Never a part of Ancient Greater Israel, has no historicity concerning our national identity, then it is a no brainer, regardless of its strategic import...give it back to Syria which must pledge NEVER to place weapons there in any way shape or form. Turn it into a tourist site and they can make money. The Real issues are the West Bank: which should NEVER be relinquished (the Arabs have Jordan, thats enough) and Gaza, which is the keystone to the peace process. WHAT WE DO WITH GAZA WILL DECIDE FOR THE WORLD AND THE PALESTINIAN ARABS ONCE AND FOR ALL THE KIND OF NATION ISRAEL IS. IT WILL BE A PERMENANT BRAND ON OUR NATION'S BODY. Hopefully, the gov't will know what to do with it but they must THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX. Israel has far less cultural identity attached to Gaza and the Arab-Palestinians should have an opportunity to build their country there.

It is not as if Israel was ever going to agree to a Golan pullout, referendum or no referendum. There are two paths to peace. There is the peaceful way and the violent way. Israel has made it ever more difficult to tred the peaceful path to peace. This is just more of the same. In the end, the Palestinians or their allies will get hold of some very potent weapon which will cause Israel to put everything back on the table. It may take years or even decades for this to happen, but it will certainly happen. The technology of war is nurtured and cherished too much to disappoint.

So the Israeli public can now veto any peace negotiations with Syria or the Palestinians by voting against land withdrawals from the Golan or Jerusalem? And when they do vote against any land withdrawals for their own nationlist reasons, then where are we left? A permanent state of conflict with the Palestinians and Syrians, and the continued lack of recognition by the international community to Israel's claims on these territories?

is illegal under International Law and the Israeli annexation of it is not recognized by any country on earth. The reason why it is not recognized is because the rest of the world understands the law. No laws Israel makes can supercede International Law.