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The Case for an Israeli Referendum on Peace

Mazal Mualem argues that a referendum law may well emerge as a useful lever for jump-starting the peace process.
Former centrist Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni gestures during a news conference in Tel Aviv November 27, 2012. Livni announced on Tuesday she would challenge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a Jan. 22 election by running for office as head of a new political party she vowed would "fight for peace."    REUTERS/Nir Elias (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) - RTR3AXEZ
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When she served as a Likud Knesset member, Tzipi Livn i supported a referendum law. Such a law would require a majority vote of more than 50% of all those who have voting rights to ratify any diplomatic agreement with the Palestinians.

Yet, Livni, in her current roles as chairwoman of the HaTenua party and justice minister in charge of diplomatic negotiations with the Palestinians, was the first recently to oppose a similar bill that is stirring up Israel’s political system. The proposal that was submitted by the deputy minister at the prime minister's office Ofir Akunis, is promoted by HaBayit HaYehudi chairman and Trade and Industry Minister Naftali Bennett, and has the support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

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