Referendums to Put Pressure On Palestinian, Israeli Negotiators
The decision by Israel and the Palestinians to put any final deal to referendums will have a profound influence on the negotiation process.
During the difficult reconciliation efforts between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Hamas, a resolution was found to deal with the issue of talks with Israel, which the latter refuses to recognize. The Hamas leadership conceded that the PLO could negotiate with Israel provided that any agreement reached is put to a public referendum.
A similar decision to hold a referendum in Israel has also been agreed to by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and some of his right-wing coalition members opposed to a two-state solution. The Israelis' decision seems more unusual than the one by the Palestinians.
