Israel's Shimon Peres calls for referendum on any peace deal
Pastor Dale Morgan
Israel's Shimon Peres calls for referendum on any peace deal*
Reuters
Sunday, January 20, 2008; 5:29 PM
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's President Shimon Peres said on Sunday any
peace deal with the Palestinians should be put to a vote in the Jewish
state either through a referendum or elections.
Israel and the Palestinians re-launched peace talks after a seven-year
hiatus at a U.S.-sponsored peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland in
November.
Both Israel and the Palestinians agreed to try and reach a deal on
Palestinian statehood before U.S. President George W. Bush leaves office
in a year.
"I propose either a referendum or elections but this should be at the
end of negotiations," Peres told Reuters on the sidelines of Israel's
annual Herzliya security and policy conference which held its opening
session in parliament.
Peres, who holds the largely ceremonial position, said the government,
as well as Israel's opposition parties in parliament, needed to "put
together its position .... so the people can decide."
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government faces stiff opposition
to this peace drive from right-wing members of the 120-member
parliament. A key coalition partner quit his cabinet last week in
protest over the talks.
Asked if a referendum could potentially weaken Olmert, Peres said: "I
think if he (Olmert) comes up with a plan it would bolster him rather
than make things more difficult for him."
Israel has never held a referendum, which would require a change in the
state's basic laws.
(Reporting by Dan Williams; Writing by Avida Landau, Editing by Ibon
Villelabeitia)