Likud's new referendum bill meant to delimit Livni?
Ruling party officials disapprove of PM tasking Hatnua chairwoman with heading Israel-PA peace talks; promote bill aimed to mandate public vote on any draft agreement
Hatnua Chairwoman Tzipi Livni may have officially been tasked with heading the Israeli-Palestinian peace process but some in the Likud-Beiteinu are already planning ways to limit her ability to do so.
Ynet learned Wednesday that a new bill is in the works, by which any deal with the Palestinian Authority would require a referendum.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who already asserted that he will supervise over the negotiations, is said to be supportive of the bill.
"The government will not debate, nor will it vote, on any regional peace deal until such time that it has garnered a majority vote in a referendum," the bill's brief states.
Sources in the Likud said that the coalition deal struck between Netanyahu and Linvi – the first in the current round of coalition talks – has been "hard to swallow," further expressing concern that in her new role as justice minister, Livni might "block and hinder rightist legislation."
The referendum bill was brought before the House by MK Ofir Akunis (Likud). "This is the most democratic thing that can be done… it will enable the Israeli public to have a direct say on the pivotal question that has been heading the public agenda for 45 years," he said.
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